So how is it as a Planetary Geologist?

[fatal291]

Hello I was considering doing this I am 18 now. I was wondering if anyone here went down this path and if you have what are the requirements? Do you still have to take as much math? What are some of the best things I can get into right now to get me prepared for Planetary Geology? It seems to me that this is a rarely talked about field of Astronomy. I was just wondering how complicated it is.

 

[yevaud]

Speak to JonClarke - he's a professional Planetary Geologist. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[3488]

Yes do as Yevaud said, Jon Clarke is more than qualified.<br /><br />I think exoscientist is too (Bob Clark).<br /><br />What I would suggest is do a foundation in terrestrial geology, as that will set you up<br />with the fundementals of rifting, volcanics, plate tectonics, etc &<br />will enable familiarity with indefying features (difference between shield & composite <br />volcanoes, etc).<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <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>

 

[yevaud]

My (dual) Majors were pointing me in that professional direction; I hared off into a different professional path, rather than Graduate and Post-Graduate studies. *Sigh* I are an idiot.<br /><br />Anyways, what you need is the Undergraduate fundamentals for this profession. I can reasonably well provide those for you.<br /><br />Realistically, for a good prep., you would require:<br /><br />Math through Differential and Integral Equations (Statistics and Linear Mathematics possibly).<br />Physics I, II, and III (with perhaps a side-course or so).<br />Biology II and II.<br />Chemistry I, II, and possibly III - Organic and Inorganic Chemistry; Biochemistry.<br />Several solid Geology courses.<br />A couple of solid Geography courses.<br />Same with several Astronomy courses.<br />Also some good computer science courses thrown in.<br />Maybe Fluid Dynamics or at least Hydrogeology.<br />Oceanography?<br /><br />These can be mixed and matched, as long as the provide a solid underpinning of knowledge in these various subjects - dependent, of course, on your area of interest. Me, it was going to be Planetary Atmospheres, so I focussed on Geography (Remote Sensing, GIS, Atmospheric Physics) and Astronomy (Solar, Planetary Astronomy), and Computer Science, with others of those courses thrown in.<br /><br />So, help me out here: what, specifically, would you like to pursue?<br /><br />(Jon, feel free to chime in please, whenever you return) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

Yes you am <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

If JonClarke can't inspire you and lead you in the right direction, than no one can. He is the resident Guru. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[fatal291]

yeah ive talked to him before, do u guys think this is the field of the future with the retirement of the shuttle i am hoping trips to other planets manned or not would make this field very valuable