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.

Terminology

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):

Body	Term	Source of root in term
Sun	Heliology	Greek Helios
Mercury	Hermeology	Greek Hermes
Venus	Cytherology	Greek Cythera
Earth	Earth science (geoscience): e.g., geology	Greek Gaia
Moon	Selenology	Greek Selene
Mars	Areology	Greek Ares
Jupiter	Zenology	Greek Zeus
Saturn	Kronology	Greek Chronos
Uranus	Uranology	Greek/Latin Uranus
Neptune	Poseidology	Greek Poseidon
Pluto	Hadeology	Greek Hades

Terminology

Basic Concepts

See also

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Planetary science

Terminology

Basic Concepts

See also