Planetary science

Planetary science

The scientific study of planets including Earth, moons, and planetary systems of the Solar System in particular and the processes that form them.

Industry: Astronomy

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Planetary science

Cosmic rays

Astronomy; Planetary science

Extremely high-energy subatomic particles that continuously bombard Earth from all directions. Most cosmic rays hit and break up atomic nuclei in Earth's upper atmosphere. Airless bodies are not ...

Olivine

Astronomy; Planetary science

Mineral found in basalt; ranges from Mg 2 SiO 4 to Fe 2 SiO 4 .

Ordinary chondrite

Astronomy; Planetary science

The most common class of meteorite to fall on Earth. They contain variable amounts of metal and chondrules in a matrix of mostly silicate minerals. See chondrite.

Farside

Astronomy; Planetary science

The side of the Moon that never faces Earth.

Technique to determine the age of a rock by measuring the last time the rock being dated was either melted or disturbed sufficiently to rehomogenize its naturally-occurring radioactive elements. This ...

Right ascension (RA)

Astronomy; Planetary science

Celestial coordinate which is equivalent to the longitude of an object on Earth. The starting point for longitude on Earth is at Greenwich England, whereas in the celestial coordinate system it is at ...