"It 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."
Theories and processes of planetary formation including accretion, differentiation, and planetary evolution.
Solar System Overview: This includes an overview of the components of the solar system, such as planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets.
Formation and Early Evolution of the Solar System: This includes the theories of solar system formation, including the accretion disk theory, the gas cloud collapse theory, and the capture theory.
Properties of Planetary Systems: This includes an overview of the properties of planetary systems, such as the distribution of planetary sizes and masses, the spacing of planets within a system, and the eccentricity of planetary orbits.
Solar Nebula: This includes an explanation of the solar nebula, which is the gaseous and dusty cloud from which the solar system formed.
Protoplanetary Disk: This includes an explanation of the protoplanetary disk that surrounded the young Sun, from which the planets in our solar system formed.
Planetesimal Accretion: This includes the details of the building of planetesimals, the small particles that clump together to create planets.
Differentiation: This includes an explanation of differentiation, which is a process by which a body undergoes chemical and thermal processes that cause its constituents to separate into layers of different composition.
Planetary Migration: This includes an explanation of planetary migration, which is the movement of planets within the solar system and how the migration led to the current structure of the solar system.
Terrestrial and Giant Planet Formation: This includes an explanation of how the differences in the composition and size of the rocky terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) and the giant gas planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) came about.
Atmospheric Evolution and Composition: This includes an insight into how a planet's atmosphere evolves over time, and how the atmosphere's chemical composition is crucial to planetary habitability.
Surface Processes and Plate Tectonics: This includes an overview of the various surface processes that shape a planet's surface, such as volcanism, weathering, and erosion.
Planetary Systems Beyond Our Solar System: This includes an introduction to exoplanetary systems and their diversity, along with the various ways they have been detected.
Astrobiology and the Search for Life: This includes an overview of astrobiology, the search for life beyond Earth, and the possible conditions habitable for life in the universe.
Contribution of Space Missions in Planetary Science: This includes a summary of various planetary missions and how they have helped us better understand the formation of planetary systems and the evolution of individual planets.
Planetary Protection: This includes the ethical and scientific considerations while exploring space, to ensure that the exploration does not harm the planets and moons being studied nor contaminate them with Earth's microbes.
Nebular Hypothesis: This is a widely-accepted theory explaining the formation and evolution of our solar system. It proposes that the sun and planets formed from a rotating cloud of gas and dust (called a nebula) about 4.6 billion years ago.
Protoplanetary Disk (Accretion) Model: According to this theory, planets form from the gradual accretion of solid particles and gas that come together in a swirling disk of debris around a young star.
Giant Impact Theory: This theory proposes that the moon formed from debris ejected into space after a Mars-sized object collided with the proto-Earth.
Gravitational Instability: This theory states that planets can form directly from the collapse of cold, dense gas clouds, without the need for a protoplanetary disk.
Disk Instability: This theory proposes that protoplanetary disks can become unstable and fragment, leading to the formation of giant gas planets.
Pebble Accretion: A newer theory, it posits that after large planetesimals form, small pebbles can stick to them, making them grow faster, and quicker.
Rogue Planet Formation: It is said that some planets may be ejected from their stars' systems, and float around in space, while occasionally colliding with other floating planets.
"It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants."
"Aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation, interrelations, and history."
"It is a strongly interdisciplinary field...planetary geology, cosmochemistry, atmospheric science, physics, oceanography, hydrology, theoretical planetary science, glaciology, and exoplanetology."
"It originally grew from astronomy and Earth science."
"Allied disciplines include space physics, when concerned with the effects of the Sun on the bodies of the Solar System, and astrobiology."
"Observational research can involve combinations of space exploration, predominantly with robotic spacecraft missions using remote sensing, and comparative, experimental work in Earth-based laboratories."
"The theoretical component involves considerable computer simulation and mathematical modeling."
"Planetary scientists are generally located in the astronomy and physics or Earth sciences departments of universities or research centers."
"Yes, they generally study one of the Earth sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, or physics at the graduate level and concentrate their research in planetary science disciplines."
"There are several purely planetary science institutes worldwide."
"Some planetary scientists work at private research centers and often initiate partnership research tasks."
"There are several major conferences each year."
"There is a wide range of peer-reviewed journals."
"Planetary geology, cosmochemistry, atmospheric science, physics, oceanography, hydrology, theoretical planetary science, glaciology, and exoplanetology."
"Yes, Earth is included in the study of planetary science."
"[Planetary science] aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation, interrelations, and history."
"It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants."
"...astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, or physics."
"Astrobiology is an allied discipline of planetary science, focusing on the search for life beyond Earth."