Planetary science
Planetary science, also known as
planetology or
planetary astronomy, is the
science of
planets, or
planetary systems, and the
solar system. Incorporating an
interdisciplinary approach, planetary science draws from diverse sciences and may be considered a part of the
Earth sciences, or more logically, as its parent field. Research tends to be done by a combination of
astronomy,
space exploration (particularly
unmanned space missions), and comparative, experimental and
meteorite work based on Earth. There is also an important
theoretical component and considerable use of
computer simulation.
Astrogeology is a major component of planetary sciences.
Planetary science studies objects ranging in size from
micrometeoroids to
gas giants, their composition, dynamics and history.
When the discipline concerns itself with a celestial body in particular, a specialised term is used, as shown in the table below (only
Heliology,
Earth science (synonymous with
geoscience),
Selenology, and
Areology are currently in common use):
*
Asteroid*
Brown dwarfs
*
Comets
*
Earthquake*
Equatorial bulge*
Extrasolar planets
*
Gas giant planets
*
Icy moons
*
Kuiper belt*
Magnetosphere*
Planet*
Planetary differentiation*
Planetary system*
the Pluto debate*
Precession*
Solar-terrestrial interaction*
Space weather*
Space weathering*
Star system*
Sun*
Synchronous rotation*
Super Jupiter*
Terrestrial planets
*
Astrogeology*
Planetary habitability
