planetary science

solar system

Star and orbiting bodies

• moonsBodies orbiting planets
• asteroidsSmall solar orbiters
• cometsIcy bodies orbiting stars

Kuiper belt · Oort cloud · accretion · planetesimals · gas giants · ice giants · ring systems · tidal forces · centaurs

orbital mechanics

Science of celestial motion

• eccentricityUnconventional behavior or nature
• inclinationDisposition toward something
• perihelionOrbital point nearest sun

aphelion · retrograde motion · escape velocity · delta-v · orbital decay · ephemeris · conjunction · opposition

volcanism

Subterranean magma expulsion process

• tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
• crateringForming impact hollows
• lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle

mantle · core · seismology · regolith · lava tubes · fault lines · canyon systems · shield volcanoes · differentiation · outgassing

habitability

Suitability for dwelling

• biosignaturesDetectable signs of life
• extremophilesOrganisms surviving extreme conditions
• habitable zoneRegion allowing liquid water

liquid water · prebiotic chemistry · panspermia · biomarkers · hydrothermal vents · organic molecules · Europa · Enceladus · Titan · Drake equation

space missions

Organized voyages beyond atmosphere

• roversThose who roam
• orbitersCraft circling celestial bodies
• flybysClose passes without stopping

remote sensing · spectroscopy · radar imaging · magnetometry · mass spectrometry · drilling · mission planning · deep space network · telemetry · Voyager

cloud layers

Distinct horizontal vapor bands

• troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
• stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
• thermosphereHigh-temperature atmospheric zone

exosphere · greenhouse effect · haze · winds · storms · dust storms · polar vortex · atmospheric pressure · photochemistry · nitrogen cycle

• sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
• astronomy topicssolar eclipses, lunar phases, Mars exploration, Saturn rings, meteor showers
• NASAApollo, Artemis, astronauts, Cape Canaveral, Hubble
• Physical Sciencesphysics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, meteorology
• space explorationrockets, Saturn V, satellites, mission, Falcon Heavy
• space scienceastronomy class, cosmology, stars, space exploration, galaxies