Planetary Geology useful outside of NASA?

[RonMaverick]

<span style="color:#333333;font-family:arial;font-size:13px;line-height:16px" class="Apple-style-span">Hello I am really interested in planetary geology.i'm 20 and I was wondering if it was practical or worth the investment right now. It seems the only use of the field is through NASA and their experiments such as the Mars robots and other planetary/moon science labs. Is this field exclusively to NASA?&nbsp;<br /><br />I realize companies like SpaceX are starting to rise up now. Do you think this field will become more open in the time it would take to gain enough experience? I know if I did Geology the study of Earth I'd be fine but I want to study other planets and moons also not just Earth. i like learning about how the different moons and plants in space work, some shoot ice out of the ground others have oceans underground. I do not want it to be a hobby, hobby won't get the bills paid. (not that I'm in it only for money) So could you please tell me how you see this issue being used in the near future and if I should try this or something else that could possibly be similar. Thanks.</span> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><font size="2"><strong>Hi Ron,</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Planetary Geology will not be useful for long term employment with companies like SpaceX as they focus on providing launch services for private customers & contractual customers (of which NASA will be a long term customer).</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>If you wanted to work for SpaceX for the long term, then I would imagine they would prefer IT, engineering & accountancy qualifications rather than Planetary Science as SpaceX are driven by commercial aspirations rather than for pure scientific ones, as NASA often does with the planetary exploration program.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>However Planetary Geology (Astrogeology) IMO is more important if you are studying geology & Earth Sciences.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>For instance, stdying the Tharsis Volcanoes on Mars will certainly help with the stuy of Hot Spot Shield volcanism, Jupiter's moon Io, a great exmpe of how volcanism can be driven by tidal forces, </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Enceladus, Titan, Triton, possibly Europa, Ganymede, Pluto, Charon, Eris, Europa, Ganymede, Titania, Oberon, Dione & Ariel, cryovolcanism (volcanism involving low temperature volatiles rather than molten rock).</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Venus & Mercury as well as Earth, the Moon, Mars & Io all have examples of the more familiar high temperature volcanism.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Regarding varying types of tectonic activity, the Earth, Ganymede, Europa, Dione, Ariel, Titania, Enceladus & Titan are prime examples.<br /></strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Another important area of study impact cratering. Here too there are a huge number of examples, notably Callisto, Tethys, Rhea & Umbriel.<br /></strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Sedimentary depositions, Earth & Mars. Aeolian processes, Venus, Earth, Mars & Titan. Erosional processes, Earth, Mars & Titan.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>There's plenty there. It depends on what you want it for.&nbsp;</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Jon Clarke would probably be better to advise as he is a professional geologist. IMO though other than lets say, ESA, JAXA, ISRO, etc, probably not as so far the companies like SpaceX are not currently involved in Planetary Exploration. In 20 or 30 years time, SpaceX might, but NASA will still be doing that then & beyond certainly.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hello I am really interested in planetary geology.i'm 20 and I was wondering if it was practical or worth the investment right now. It seems the only use of the field is through NASA and their experiments such as the Mars robots and other planetary/moon science labs. Is this field exclusively to NASA?&nbsp;I realize companies like SpaceX are starting to rise up now. Do you think this field will become more open in the time it would take to gain enough experience? I know if I did Geology the study of Earth I'd be fine but I want to study other planets and moons also not just Earth. i like learning about how the different moons and plants in space work, some shoot ice out of the ground others have oceans underground. I do not want it to be a hobby, hobby won't get the bills paid. (not that I'm in it only for money) So could you please tell me how you see this issue being used in the near future and if I should try this or something else that could possibly be similar. Thanks. <br />Posted by RonMaverick</DIV></p><p>Hi Ron</p><p>Most planetary geologists don't work for NASA, but for universities or government institutions.&nbsp; Most indeed are not full time, but do planetary geology as one of their research interests.</p><p>As a geologist who has an interest in planetary geology,my advice would be to get a geology degree and then do planetary geology as a post graduate subject.&nbsp;I would also join the Mars Society as they&nbsp;have opportunities for Mars&nbsp;analogue research at their various research stations. If you can't get into a graduate program then you can do research on the side through groups the Mars Societies.&nbsp; Working in industry is also a great way to get to know how planet, and still allows you to follow your interest outside.&nbsp; Most planetary scientists don't know enough about the planet they live on, and it often shows.</p><p>Jon<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[RonMaverick]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi RonMost planetary geologists don't work for NASA, but for universities or government institutions.&nbsp; Most indeed are not full time, but do planetary geology as one of their research interests.As a geologist who has an interest in planetary geology,my advice would be to get a geology degree and then do planetary geology as a post graduate subject.&nbsp;I would also join the Mars Society as they&nbsp;have opportunities for Mars&nbsp;analogue research at their various research stations. If you can't get into a graduate program then you can do research on the side through groups the Mars Societies.&nbsp; Working in industry is also a great way to get to know how planet, and still allows you to follow your interest outside.&nbsp; Most planetary scientists don't know enough about the planet they live on, and it often shows.Jon <br /> Posted by jonclarke</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">Thank you for your replies. &nbsp;I am no expert so what I'm about to ask might sound silly or&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:LucidaGrande;white-spacere" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">absurd</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;white-space:normal" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">. &nbsp;As a Geologist are you pretty much confined to doing oil/gas work? &nbsp;I know somewhere there is a team studying the planets for whatever reason and that is what I wanted to do. &nbsp;I wanted to take my like for astronomy one step farther and do some real hands on work here on earth. &nbsp;</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">Is there a more direct path to doing that? &nbsp;I can't seem to find the field that will get me there. It seems like Geology is not what I was expecting it to be.. I have no problem studying the Earth, that is the part i want to do, however I would not enjoy being on a oil rig or fishing boat doing oil work. &nbsp;I was expecting more of a lab like setting or at least being more direct with actual planetary projects. [such as&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:LucidaGrande;white-spacere" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size:small" class="Apple-style-span">meteorology] maybe I have this wrong or maybe this is just the case of having one foot before the other. Could you explain this farther please?</span></span></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

<p>Hi Ron</p><p>People with geology degrees do all sorts of stuff.&nbsp; Somer work in petroleum, some in coal, others in mineral exploration and mining.&nbsp; There are also hydrogeologists, involved with water management, geotechical people who do civil engineering related work, geophysicists, geochemists, environmental geologists, soil scientists, researchers, remote sensing and GIS people, geomathematicans and modellers etc.&nbsp; Some is field based, som,e lab based, usually a mixture. It depends on your interests, skills,&nbsp;and where you end up.</p><p>Most geoscientists do many thyings in their career.&nbsp; I have worked for the petroleum and minerals sector, in government as an environmental geologist, taught at university, and done post graduate research.&nbsp; In the process I have worked on five continents and in three oceans.&nbsp; These days I do Mars research as a hobby.</p><p>Jon</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi RonPeople with geology degrees do all sorts of stuff.&nbsp; ...Posted by jonclarke</DIV></p><p>That includes stuff that has no clear relationship to geology.&nbsp; A fellow once worked for me supervising a goupr of non-destructive test engineers, and he had a geology degree.&nbsp; Another one who worked for me supervised some test and instrumentation data processing people with a geology degree.&nbsp; My stock broker has a geology degree.</p><p>Geologists can be pretty versatile.&nbsp; It is not just rocks. <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[summoner]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That includes stuff that has no clear relationship to geology.&nbsp; A fellow once worked for me supervising a goupr of non-destructive test engineers, and he had a geology degree.&nbsp; Another one who worked for me supervised some test and instrumentation data processing people with a geology degree.&nbsp; My stock broker has a geology degree.Geologists can be pretty versatile.&nbsp; It is not just rocks. <br /> Posted by DrRocket</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Exactly, I went to school at Montana Tech.&nbsp; All the geology based degrees are engineering so you can be quite versatile in what you end up doing.&nbsp; One of my profs was retired from the NRO as air photo interpreter, very cool job. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:271px;background-color:#FFF;border:1pxsolid#999"><tr><td colspan="2"><div style="height:35px"><img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/htmlSticker1/language/www/US/MT/Three_Forks.gif" alt="" height="35" width="271" style="border:0px" /></div>