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

Weathering

Astronomy; Planetary science

The mechanical breakdown and chemical alteration of rocks and minerals at Earth's surface during exposure to air, moisture, and organic matter.

Nakhlites

Astronomy; Planetary science

One of the three types of meteorites from Mars (the SNC meteorites). Nakhlites are cumulate igneous rocks characterised by a high abundance of pyroxene and lesser amounts of olivine. This type is ...

Ocean of storms

Astronomy; Planetary science

Landing site of Apollo 12 on the Moon on Nov. 19, 1969; Oceanus Procellarum.

Source

Astronomy; Planetary science

Location where igneous matter (lava and gases) erupts onto the surface; vent, fissure, volcano, etc.

Iron meteorites are made, almost completely, of iron and nickel metal. They are chemically distinguished and grouped according to the abundances of the trace elements such as gallium and germanium, ...

Exsolution

Astronomy; Planetary science

The segregation, during cooling, of a homogeneous solid solution into two or more different minerals.

Radiocarbon

Astronomy; Planetary science

Radiocarbon, or 14 C, is the unstable, radioactive isotope of carbon having atomic number 6 and atomic mass 14. It is continuously produced in Earth's upper atmosphere by cosmic ray bombardment. In ...