astrogeology
Extraterrestrial terrain science
Astrogeology is the study of the geology of celestial bodies other than Earth, including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
The field examines surface features, rock compositions, and geological processes on bodies throughout the solar system.
NASA's astrogeology program mapped the lunar surface before the Apollo missions.
Much of what we know about Mars's ancient riverbeds and volcanic history comes from astrogeological research.
Forceful contact or consequence
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
- brecciaCemented angular rock fragments
- rimCircular outer boundary
- rayNarrow light emission
bowl-shaped · regolith · selenology · stratigraphy · Tycho · Copernicus · cratering · impactor
Goddess of crops and growth
belt · Trojans · carbonaceous · chondrite · silicates · regolith · composition · spectroscopy
Red planet, war deity
- VenusLove goddess, or planet
- MercuryMessenger god or planet
- terrestrialRelating to land
- gas giantsPlanets of hydrogen, helium
satellites · moons · Titan · Europa · Ganymede · Io · Enceladus · atmosphere
Gathering data without contact
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- altimetryMeasuring vertical distance upward
- imagingProducing visual representations
mineralogy · petrology · stratigraphy · geomorphology · seismology · magnetometry · gravimetry · sample analysis
Science of inorganic solids
- silicatesSilicon-oxygen bonded minerals
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
- pyroxeneRock-forming silicate group
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
ice · volatiles · organics · iron · nickel · sulfur · carbon · water ice
Erupted liquid stone
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- shield volcanoLow-profile basaltic mountain
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
- mareFemale adult equine
Olympus Mons · pyroclastic · magma · effusive · flood basalt · volcanic plains · lava tube · vent
impact
Forceful contact or consequence
ray · bowl-shaped · regolith · selenology · stratigraphy · Tycho · Copernicus · cratering · impactor · micrometeorite
Ceres
Goddess of crops and growth
Psyche · belt · Trojans · carbonaceous · chondrite · silicates · regolith · composition · spectroscopy · albedo
Mars
Red planet, war deity
- VenusLove goddess, or planet
- MercuryMessenger god or planet
- terrestrialRelating to land
gas giants · satellites · moons · Titan · Europa · Ganymede · Io · Enceladus · atmosphere · volcanism
remote sensing
Gathering data without contact
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- radarRadio-wave object detection
- altimetryMeasuring vertical distance upward
imaging · mineralogy · petrology · stratigraphy · geomorphology · seismology · magnetometry · gravimetry · sample analysis · rover
mineralogy
Science of inorganic solids
- silicatesSilicon-oxygen bonded minerals
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
- pyroxeneRock-forming silicate group
feldspar · ice · volatiles · organics · iron · nickel · sulfur · carbon · water ice · clays
lava
Erupted liquid stone
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- shield volcanoLow-profile basaltic mountain
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
mare · Olympus Mons · pyroclastic · magma · effusive · flood basalt · volcanic plains · lava tube · vent · hotspot
astrogeologygeoscience
Study of Earth's systems
physical geography · pedology · soil science · sedimentology · oceanography