Planetary

Science
Somewhere something incredible
is waiting to be known.

--Harshvardhan Munda
160285
--Niraj Kumar 160455
Earth Science Dept. Jens Martensson
PLANETARY SCIENCE
is the entire
scientific study of planets
and their planetary system.
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IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE
Understanding the planets and small bodies that inhabit our solar system help
scientists answer questions about its formation, how it reached its current
diverse state, how life evolved on Earth and possibly elsewhere in the solar
system, and what characteristics of the solar system lead to the origins of life.
Q. What are the big scientific questions that Planetary science tries to answer?
• How did the Solar System form?
• What are the conditions for life?
• How does the Solar System work?
• How does the Sun influence planets and planetary systems?
Q. How are these questions answered?
• Planetary scientists use lots of different techniques involving lots of branches of
science to try to answer these questions:
• Use unmanned robot spacecraft to make measurements of the planets and their
planetary systems.
• Carry out experimental work in laboratories or in at different sites on the Earth
which replicate different planetary environments.
• Do theoretical work involving mathematical work and building models of
planetary systems or their components using computers.

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RESEARCH
Specific research topic in Planetary Science:
1. Fireballs that Produce Meteorites -Fireballs in the sky are caused by interplanetary debris crashing
into Earth's atmosphere. Some fireballs result in showers of meteorites, rocks or metal that fall from the
sky. 
2. The Origin of the Moon - In 1975,two PSI scientists were first to suggest the leading modern
hypothesis of the moon's origin.
3. Introduction to Martian Cratering Studies - By measuring the distribution of craters on the surface
of a planet, much can be learned about the age of the surfaces, the volcanic and erosional processes
occurring there, and even about the planet's atmosphere.

1. 2. 3.

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SIGNIFICANT FINDING
Blurring the lines between astronomy and
metaphysics
Aristotle. Copernicus. Galileo. Kepler. Newton.
Einstein.

• Think about Copernicus in the 1500’s telling

a group of other thinkers that the 
Sun was in the center of universe – not the
Earth. Think about the reaction of those
folks when they realized that a very core of
their existence – their physical space in the
universe – was turned completely upside
down.
• Together, the work of these men and their
kin has consistently changed the way we
understand the world around us. Which is
pretty much the definition of “epic.”

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 AstroSat MISSION

AstroSat is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands
simultaneously. The payloads cover the energy bands of Ultraviolet (Near and Far), limited optical and X-ray regime (0.3 keV to
100keV). One of the unique features of AstroSat mission is that it enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various
astronomical objects with a single satellite.

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 MARS ORBITER MISSION

Marking India's first venture into the interplanetary space, MOM will explore and observe Mars surface
features, morphology, mineralogy and the Martian atmosphere. Further, a specific search for methane in
the Martian atmosphere will provide information about the possibility or the past existence of life on the
planet.

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NASA Selects University Teams to Develop System Prototypes for
Deep Space

NASA and the National Space Grant Foundation have selected 10 university teams to design systems, concepts and
technologies to potentially support the agency’s deep space exploration capabilities. The selections are part of the 
eXploration Systems and Habitation (X-Hab) 2019 Academic Innovation Challenge and include proposals to advance 3D
printing in space, improve spacecraft environmental recycling systems, refine plant growth systems and create conceptual
habitat designs. “The X-Hab challenge is a great example of how NASA is using non-traditional approaches to
developing important technology, while providing unique technical student experiences that can inspire future careers

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New sensor installed in preparation for investigation, Space Station
Science

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) MagVector investigation studies how Earth’s magnetic field
interacts with an electrical conductor. Using extremely sensitive magnetic sensors placed around and
above a conductor, researchers gain insight into ways that the magnetic field influences how conductors
work. This research not only helps improve future experiments aboard the station and other electrical
experiments, but it could offer insights into how magnetic fields influence electrical conductors in general,
the backbone of our technology on Earth.

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