The Earth and Planets

3 Units

An examination of the geological processes that have shaped the planets and moons of the inner solar system, focusing on those with relevance to our own planet Earth. Following an introduction to the fundamentals of planetary geology, lectures and exercises will explore how the inner planets (the asteroids, Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, and Mars) exhibit the effects of planetary differentiation, impact cratering, volcanic activity, tectonics, climate, and interactions with life.