Planetary geologists devote their careers to unlocking the secrets of celestial bodies and, most importantly, applying that research in ways that help humankind. These scientists analyze the physical makeup of other planets, satellites, comets and the like to unravel clues about their origin and history. Their work is crucial to understanding our solar system and the universe beyond.
Planetary geologists may focus on mapping out the topography of a planet, extrapolate information from asteroid core samples or even operate the movements of a robotic exploration mission. Recently, NASA’s Mars rovers have provided a very recognizable example of planetary geology in action, with scientists working to investigate the surface of that planet for notable geophysical evidence -- especially, signs of life. Though most planetary geologists spend their time conducting computer analyses or laboratory-based research, occasionally they make it all the way to the original source material, as was the case with geologist-cum-astronaut Harrison Schmitt, who collected samples on the surface of the Moon.
Astrogeologists typically have a highly focused specialty to which they devote much of their career. For example, Lawrence Taylor is a lunar geologist who teaches at the University of Tennessee. The self-described “lunatic” is an expert on lunar rocks and soils who has spent more than four decades honing his craft. Taylor says he only recently broadened his research to include meteorites. On the more exotic end of the spectrum is Carlton Allen, astromaterials curator for NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. In an interview with “The New York Times,” Allen is described as the overseer of more than 840 pounds of rocks and soil samples collected from the Moon by astronauts. The center loans the Moon samples out to planetary geologists and other researchers who wish to study them.
Applications at Home
Planetary scientist Nadine Barlow studies impact craters on Mars for clues about the water or ice reservoirs that might lie beneath the surface. In an interview with the College Foundation of North Carolina, Barlow notes that planetary geology isn’t just useful for understanding extraterrestrial bodies. It also helps us better understand our own planet. Barlow, for example, is interested in how Mars -- which once had an environment not terribly unlike that of Earth -- became the dusty, inhospitable place it is today. Some planetary scientists set out specifically to compare geologic processes -- like volcanic activity -- on Earth to those of other planets, so the range of their research can be as limitless as the universe.
Academia is the primary home to most planetary geologists, who serve as professors teaching classes and leading university research projects. Government agencies like NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey also employ planetary geologists. Some others find employment in private institutions that champion independent research. Most planetary geologists hold doctorates in the field and have backgrounds in astronomy, chemistry, geology or physics. Geologists involved with space missions work unconventional hours, because high-value spacecraft typically operate on a critical timetable with little to no flexibility.
Planetary geologists fall under the broader umbrella of geoscientists, a group whose average annual wage was $97,700, according to 2011 employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For geoscientists specializing in atmospheric and space research, the salary range indeed hovers around that figure, varying from a low of $81,470 to a high of $112,700, according to a 2010 occupational analysis by the American Geological Institute.
- U.S. Geological Survey: Astrogeology Science Center: About
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Geophysics & Planetary Geosciences
- U.S. Geological Survey: Astrogeology Science Center: Careers
- CBS News: New Mars Rover Targets Red Planet's Biggest Mysteries
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Biographical Data: Harrison Schmitt
- The University of Tennessee Knoxville: Lawrence (Larry) A. Taylor - Planetary Geochemist
- College Foundation of North Carolina: Planetary Geologist: Interviews
- The New York Times: Healthscience: The Keepers of the Moon
- College Foundation of North Carolina: Planetary Geologist: What They Do
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011: Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
- NASA/Getty Images News/Getty Images