Contemporary planetary science

NOV 01, 1982

A vigorous program of studies involving spacecraft missions, astronomical observations and laboratory work will tell us much about the formation of the solar system and the conditions that led to life.

DOI: 10.1063/1.2914848

Michael J. S. Belton

Eugene H. Levy

Although its roots are in classical astronomy, planetary science has made great advances over the past twenty years by using robot spacecraft sent to other planets. Because of the wealth of information that has rewarded this exploration, planetary science now attracts the attention of physicists, chemists, geologists, astronomers and atmospheric scientists, among others. Long‐held views about cosmic phenomena and about the planets and their origin are changing, and our probing studies are opening new vistas of understanding.

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References

1. Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, The Outer Planets (1976)
and Strategy for Exploration of the Inner Planets (1978), Space Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
2. Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, Strategy for Exploration of the Primitive Solar‐System Bodies: Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids, Space Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. (1980).
3. Review articles can be found in Science, Space Science Reviews, Journal of Geophysical Research, Icarus and Scientific American.
4. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Space Science and Applications, The Study of Solar System Objects, W. E. Brunk (1980).
5. See articles by M. J. S. Belton and D. Morrison in Scientific Research with the Space Telescope, IAU Colloquium, No. 54, NASA CP‐2111 (1979).
6. Science Working Group for Spacelab Observations of Comet Halley, Observations of Comet Halley from Earth Orbit, Science Applications Inc., Arlington, Virginia (1982).
7. Working Group on Planetary Science, in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980s, Vol. 2, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. (1982).
8. Astronomy Survey Committee in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 1980s, Vol. 1, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. (1982).

More about the authors

Michael J. S. Belton, Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Eugene H. Levy, University of Arizona, Tucson.