"The geology of the Moon is quite different from that of Earth. The Moon lacks a true atmosphere, and the absence of free oxygen and water eliminates erosion due to weather."
The study of the geology of other planets and moons, including their rocks, minerals, and geological processes.
Planetary Formation and Evolution: The study of the formation and evolution of planets, including the processes that shape them over time.
Asteroids and Comets: The study of these small, rocky and icy objects in our Solar System and how they relate to the formation and evolution of planets.
Impact Cratering: The study of how impact events have affected the geology and evolution of planets and their moons.
Volcanism: The study of volcanic processes on planets and moons, and their effects on surface features and planetary evolution.
Tectonics: The study of the processes that cause deformation of planetary crusts, such as plate tectonics on Earth.
Surface Processes: The study of how the surfaces of planets and moons are shaped by natural processes such as erosion, weathering, and wind.
Mineralogy and Petrology: The study of the types of minerals and rocks that make up the planetary crust, and how they form and change over time.
Remote Sensing: The study of how to interpret data from remote sensing instruments, such as satellites or rovers, to learn about the geology of planets and moons.
Geomorphology: The study of the physical and chemical processes that shape the surface features of planets and moons.
Astrobiology: The study of the origins, distribution, and evolution of life in the universe, including the potential for life on other planets and moons.
"The surface is eroded much more slowly through the bombardment of the lunar surface by micrometeorites."
"It does not have any known form of plate tectonics."
"It has a lower gravity and, because of its small size, it cooled faster."
"The geomorphology of the lunar surface has been shaped by volcanism."
"[Volcanism] is now thought to have ended less than 50 million years ago."
"The Moon is a differentiated body, with a crust, mantle, and core."
"Geological studies of the Moon are based on a combination of Earth-based telescope observations, measurements from orbiting spacecraft, lunar samples, and geophysical data."
"The crewed Apollo program landings from 1969 to 1972...returned 382 kilograms (842 lb) of lunar rock and lunar soil to Earth."
"Three robotic Soviet Luna spacecraft returned another 301 grams (10.6 oz) of samples, and the Chinese robotic Chang'e 5 returned a sample of 1,731 g (61.1 oz) in 2020."
"The Moon is the only extraterrestrial body for which we have samples with a known geologic context."
"A handful of lunar meteorites have been recognized on Earth."
"A substantial portion of the lunar surface has not been explored."
"A number of geological questions remain unanswered."
"The geology of the Moon (sometimes called selenology, although the latter term can refer more generally to 'lunar science')."
"The absence of free oxygen and water eliminates erosion due to weather."
"The surface is eroded much more slowly through the bombardment of the lunar surface by micrometeorites."
"The geomorphology of the lunar surface has been shaped by volcanism."
"[Volcanism] is now thought to have ended less than 50 million years ago."
"The Moon is a differentiated body, with a crust, mantle, and core."