Planetology

Planetology is the scientific study of planets, including their formation, composition, structure, atmospheres and the processes that shape them. While often grouped with astronomy, planetology focuses specifically on understanding planetary bodies - whether rocky, gaseous, or icy - and their interactions with their environments. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including geology, atmospheric science, physics and chemistry, to investigate the evolution and current state of planets and their moons within the galaxy.

Planetary bodies are studied not just as distant, static objects but as dynamic systems that experience geological activity, weather systems, and even planetary-scale interactions with solar winds, radiation, and cosmic events. The field plays a key role in understanding planets' past, present, and future, as well as the conditions necessary for life.