Planetology

Research into the solar system, known as planetology or the planetary sciences, covers a diverse section of the sciences, with areas of study ranging between microscopic grains and the gas giant planets. This, combined with the general comparisons with analogous systems on the Earth involves interdisicplinary work. Research tends to be done by a combination of ground based observations, remote spacecraft observations, and both experimental and theoretical work based on Earth. It shares many interests with the Earth Sciences.

Basic Concepts:

• brown dwarfs
• gas giant planets
• terrestrial planets
• icy moons
• asteroids
• comets
• earthquake
• equatorial bulge
• kuiper belt
• magnetosphere
• the Pluto debate
• precession
• the sun
• solar-terrestrial interaction
• space weather
• synchronous rotation
• extrasolar planets
• super jupiter