Planetary Science
Sessions
January 23, 2025   09:00 AM GMT

Webinar onPlanetary Science

Early Bird Registration End Date: Dec 20, 2024
Abstract Submission Opens: Dec 02, 2024

Sessions

Planetary Material and Analogues

Planetary Materials and Analogues are Earth-based materials that mimic the composition and characteristics of substances found on other planets, moons, and celestial bodies. Planetary materials refer to the actual physical substances (e.g., rocks, minerals, ices) that make up planetary surfaces and interiors. Analogues are Earth materials, environments, or processes that scientists use to simulate and study conditions found elsewhere in the solar system. By examining planetary materials and their analogues, researchers can gain insights into the geological history, formation processes, and potential for life on distant worlds, as well as inform future space exploration missions.

Solar Wind Interaction with Planetary Bodies

Solar Wind Interaction with Planetary Bodies refers to the process by which the solar wind consisting of charged particles like electrons and protons collides with and affects the magnetospheres, atmospheres, and surfaces of planets and moons. This interaction can lead to phenomena such as auroras, atmospheric stripping, and magnetic field distortions. For planets with protective magnetic fields, like Earth, the solar wind is largely shielded, whereas planets without magnetic protection, like Mars, are more susceptible to atmospheric erosion. Understanding these interactions is key to studying planetary weather, climate evolution, and the habitability of other worlds.

Astrochemistry and Astrobiology

Astrochemistry and Astrobiology are interdisciplinary fields that explore the chemical processes and biological potential in space. It seeks to understand the origins of key organic molecules that could contribute to the formation of life. Astrobiology, on the other hand, investigates the potential for life beyond Earth, focusing on the conditions required for life to arise, survive, and evolve in extraterrestrial environments. Together, these fields explore the fundamental question of whether life exists elsewhere in the universe and how the building blocks of life are distributed across space.

Space Weather on Planets

Space Weather on Planets refers to the dynamic environmental conditions created by the interaction between a planet's atmosphere, magnetic field, and the solar wind. This includes phenomena such as solar radiation storms, geomagnetic storms, and cosmic rays that can influence a planet's climate, atmosphere, and surface conditions. Space weather impacts vary depending on the presence of a magnetic field planets like Earth are partially protected by their magnetosphere, while planets without one, such as Mars, are more vulnerable to atmospheric stripping and radiation. Understanding space weather is crucial for assessing planetary habitability, mission planning, and the long-term stability of planetary environments

Planets, Exoplanets and Habitability

Planets, Exoplanets, and Habitability refers to the study of planets within and beyond our solar system, with a focus on their potential to support life. Planets are celestial bodies that orbit stars, with conditions that vary based on factors like size, composition, and distance from their host star. Exoplanets are planets that exist outside our solar system, often discovered through methods such as the transit method or radial velocity measurements. The concept of habitability involves determining whether a planet or exoplanet has the necessary conditions—such as liquid water, a stable atmosphere, and a suitable temperature range—to support life as we know it. Understanding these factors is central to the search for life beyond Earth and the study of planetary environments capable of sustaining life.

Planetary Defense and Asteroid Impact Hazards

Planetary Defense and Asteroid Impact Hazards refers to the strategies and technologies aimed at detecting, tracking, and mitigating the threat posed by near-Earth objects, such as asteroids and comets, that could potentially collide with Earth. Planetary defense involves proactive measures to prevent or lessen the impact of such objects, which may include early detection systems, impact avoidance strategies, or deflection techniques. Asteroid impact hazards are the risks associated with the collision of large space objects with Earth, which could cause significant environmental damage, loss of life, and disrupt ecosystems. Research in planetary defense is critical for safeguarding Earth from future catastrophic events, ensuring that we have the necessary tools and knowledge to respond to such threats effectively.

Artificial Intelligence in Planetary Exploration

Artificial Intelligence in Planetary Exploration refers to the use of AI technologies to enhance the efficiency, autonomy, and capabilities of space missions aimed at exploring planetary bodies. AI systems, such as machine learning algorithms and robotics, are deployed to analyze vast amounts of data, optimize mission operations, and make real-time decisions without direct human intervention. In planetary exploration, AI is used in tasks like navigation, terrain mapping, automated sample analysis, and anomaly detection, helping space probes, rovers, and satellites function more effectively in distant, remote environments. By enabling autonomous exploration, AI is transforming our ability to explore planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, paving the way for deeper and more complex missions.

The Moon- Lunar Exploration and Colonization

The Moon- Lunar Exploration and Colonization refers to the scientific study and technological efforts aimed at exploring the Moon and establishing a permanent human presence there. Lunar exploration involves missions to study the Moon's surface, geology, resources, and potential for supporting life, typically through robotic landers, rovers, and crewed space missions. Lunar colonization extends this exploration to the idea of building sustainable human habitats on the Moon, utilizing its resources for life support, energy, and construction materials. This includes developing technologies for long-term survival, such as habitat systems, mining lunar resources, and creating infrastructure for transportation and communication. The goal of lunar exploration and colonization is to advance our understanding of the Moon, establish a base for deeper space exploration, and potentially pave the way for future off-Earth settlements.

The Role of Magnetic Fields in Planetary Atmospheres

The Role of Magnetic Fields in Planetary Atmospheres refers to the influence that a planet's magnetic field has on its atmosphere, particularly in protecting it from solar and cosmic radiation. Magnetic fields act as a shield, deflecting charged particles from the solar wind, which can otherwise strip away a planet's atmosphere over time. For planets like Earth, the magnetic field helps maintain atmospheric stability, preventing the loss of essential gases like oxygen and nitrogen. In contrast, planets without significant magnetic fields, such as Mars, are more vulnerable to atmospheric erosion. Understanding the role of magnetic fields is crucial for assessing the habitability of planets, as a protective magnetic field may be a key factor in sustaining a planet's atmosphere and supporting life

Tidal Forces and Planetary Evolution

Tidal Forces and Planetary Evolution refers to the gravitational interactions between a planet and its moons or nearby celestial bodies, which influence the planet's internal and external dynamics over time. Tidal forces arise from the gravitational pull between objects, causing stretching and deformation, which can lead to effects such as tidal heating, orbital evolution, and changes in a planet's rotation rate. These forces play a crucial role in shaping planetary surfaces, geological activity, and even atmospheric dynamics. Over long timescales, tidal interactions can affect a planet's habitability, orbital stability, and even lead to the evolution of moons and rings. Understanding tidal forces is essential for studying planetary evolution, as they are a fundamental driver of the processes that shape the development of planetary systems.

Climate and Geology of planets

Climate and Geology of Planets refers to the study of a planet's atmospheric conditions and its physical structure and processes. Climate involves understanding the temperature, weather patterns, and atmospheric composition, which are influenced by factors like distance from the host star, atmospheric gases, and the presence of liquid water or ice. Geology focuses on the planet's surface features, such as mountains, valleys, volcanoes, and tectonic activity, as well as the processes that shape these features, including plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and erosion. Together, climate and geology provide insights into a planet's history, evolution, and potential for sustaining life. Studying these factors helps scientists assess a planet's habitability, its past environmental conditions, and its ability to support future exploration or colonization.

The Search for Life Beyond Earth

The Search for Life Beyond Earth refers to the scientific effort to discover signs of life outside our planet, encompassing both microbial life and the potential for more complex organisms. This search involves exploring environments on other planets, moons, and celestial bodies within our solar system, such as Mars, Europa, and Enceladus, where liquid water or other life-sustaining conditions might exist. It also includes the search for exoplanets planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system that lie within the "habitable zone," where conditions might support life. The search employs a variety of methods, including robotic missions, telescopic observations, and the study of extremophiles on Earth, to understand the potential for life in diverse environments. The goal is to answer one of humanity’s most profound questions: whether we are alone in the universe.

Latest News

The Moon might be older than scientists previously thought — a new study shines light on its history

2024-12-20 - 2024-12

The Moon might be older than scientists previously thought — a new study shines light on its history
A physicist, a chemist and a mathematician walk into a bar. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in my case, it was the start of an idea that could reshape how scientists think about the history of the Moon.
The three of us were all interested in the Moon, but from different perspectives: As a geophysicist, I thought about its interior; Thorsten Kleine studied its chemistry; and Alessandro Morbidelli wanted to know what the Moon’s formation could tell us about how the planets were assembled 4.5 billion years ago.
When we got together to discuss how old the Moon really was, having those multiple perspectives turned out to be crucial.
How did the Moon form?
At a conference in Hawaii in the late 1980s, a group of scientists solved the problem of how the Moon formed. Their research suggested that a Mars-size object crashed into the early Earth, jettisoning molten material into space. That glowing material coalesced into the body now called the Moon.
This story explained many things. For one, the Moon has very little material that evaporates easily, such as water, because it began life molten. It has only a tiny iron core, because it was mostly formed from the outer part of the Earth, which has very little iron. And it has a buoyant, white-colored crust made from minerals that floated to the surface as the molten Moon solidified.
The glowing, newly formed Moon was initially very close to the Earth, at roughly the distance that TV satellites orbit. The early Moon would have raised gigantic tides on the early Earth, which itself was mostly molten and spinning rapidly.
These tides took energy from the Earth’s spin and transferred some to the Moon’s orbit, slowly pushing the Moon away from the Earth and slowing the Earth’s spin as they did so. This motion continues today – the Moon still recedes from the Earth about 2 inches per year.
As the Moon moved away, it passed through particular points where its orbit temporarily became disturbed. These orbital disturbances were an important component of its history and are a key part of our hypothesis.

Ancient Mars' thick crust could have supported hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas, new research suggests

2024-12-19 - 2024-12

The study, led by Rice University's Cin-Ty Lee, demonstrates that the southern highlands' thick crust—up to 80 kilometers in some areas—was hot enough during the Noachian and early Hesperian periods (3–4 billion years ago) to undergo partial melting in the lower crust. This process, driven by radioactive heating, could have produced significant amounts of silicic magmas such as granites and supported subsurface aquifers beneath a frozen surface layer.
"Our findings indicate that Mars' crustal processes were far more dynamic than previously thought," said Lee, the Harry Carothers Wiess Professor of Geology and professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences.
"Not only could thick crust in the southern highlands have generated granitic magmas without plate tectonics, but it also created the thermal conditions for stable groundwater aquifers—reservoirs of liquid water—on a planet we've often considered dry and frozen."
The research team—including Rice professors Rajdeep Dasgupta and Kirsten Siebach, postdoctoral research associate Duncan Keller, graduate students Jackson Borchardt and Julin Zhang and Patrick McGovern of the Lunar and Planetary Institute—employed advanced thermal modeling to reconstruct the thermal state of Mars' crust during the Noachian andearly Hesperian periods. By considering factors such as crustal thickness, radioactive heat generation and mantle heat flow, the researchers simulated how heat affected the potential for crustal melting and groundwater stability.

Intl. congress on nanoscience, nanotechnology slated for January

2024-12-20 - 2024-12

2 populations of dark comets in the solar system could tell researchers where the Earth got its oceans
Published: December 20, 2024 1.16pm GMT
The water that makes up the oceans acted as a key ingredient for the development of life on Earth. However, scientists still do not know where the water here on Earth came from in the first place.
One leading idea is that space rocks such as comets and asteroids delivered water to the Earth through impacts. As a planetary scientist, I’m curious about the kinds of space objects that could have led to the formation of the oceans. For the past few years, I’ve been studying a type of object that I called a dark comet – which could be just the culprit. In a new study my colleagues and I published in December 2024, we discovered two classes of these elusive dark comets
What is a comet?
The solar system is teaming with small bodies such as comets and asteroids. These space rocks were fundamental building blocks of planets in the early solar system, while the remaining leftovers are the comets and asteroids seen today.
These objects are also avenues by which material can be transported throughout the solar system. These small worlds can contain things such as rubble, ice and organic material as they fly through space. That’s why researchers see them as good potential candidates for delivering ices such as water and carbon dioxide to the Earth while it was forming.
Traditionally, the difference between comets and asteroids is that comets have beautiful cometary tails. These tails form because comets have ice in them, while asteroids supposedly do not.
When a comet gets close to the Sun, these ices heat up and sublimate, which means they turn from ice into gas. The gas heats up because of the sunlight and is then blown off the comet’s surface in a process called outgassing. This outgassing brings with it rubble and small dust grains, which reflect sunlight.
Asteroids, on the other hand, do not have cometary tails. Presumably, they are more like classic rocks – without ice on their surfaces.
What is a nongravitational acceleration?
The outgassing material from the surface of a comet produces a cometary tail and a rocketlike recoil. The fast moving gas pushes on the surface of the comet, and this causes it to accelerate. This process drives comets’ motion through space on top of the motion set by the gravitational pull of the Sun.
So, when comets outgas, they have what planetary scientists call nongravitational acceleration – motion that isn’t caused by the gravity of objects in the solar system. Planetary scientists typically measure the nongravitational accelerations of comets after detecting their cometary tails.

What are dark comets?
Our team identified a class of small bodies in the solar system that take some of the properties of both comets and asteroids. We called them dark comets.
These dark comets have nongravitational accelerations like comets, so they experience a rocketlike recoil from co

Useful Links

Subscribe Now