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Planetary science (or more rarely, planetology) is the scientific study of planets (including Earth), celestial bodies (such as moons, asteroids, comets) and planetary systems (in particular those of the Solar System) and the processes of their formation.
Join NASA's planetary science team as we explore our planetary neighborhood: The Sun, planets, moons, and millions of asteroids, and comets. Learn More Illustration of the Solar System.
The Definition of a Planet What is a planet? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word planet goes back to the ancient Greek word planēt, and it means “wanderer.” The International Astronomical Union (IAU) – the group of astronomers that names objects in our solar system – planets originally were defined as objects that ...
Planets beyond the solar system. The solar system has eight planets. Moving outward from the Sun, the planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. There are five officially recognized dwarf planets in our solar system.
Mar 1, 2024 · Planetary Science An asteroid may have exploded over Antarctica about 2.5 million years ago Tiny spherules of rock found in Antarctic ice may point to the oldest known “airburst,” or midair ...
Planetary Science 101. Planetary science is the study of planets, moons, and other small bodies in our solar system. Planetary scientists work across a wide range of fields to learn about everything from planetary atmospheres to interiors. Learn more about planetary science at the USGS below!
Mar 4, 2024 · Planetary science is the study of the celestial bodies that orbit stars, with a particular focus on our own solar system. This includes studying the formation and evolution of planets, the moons ...