Planetology

The planetology UE focuses on the Solar System and its planets. Its position in the Universe is also addressed, introducing the notion of exoplanets (detection and habitability). The course is divided into 3 parts: astrophysics, geophysics and geochemistry. The astrophysics section begins with an overview of the Universe, then looks at the formation of the Solar System, its dynamics and evolution. The geophysics section deals with planetary interiors and their evolution, based on data from space missions. The geochemistry section looks at nucleosynthesis, the abundance of chemical elements and the composition of the primitive and present-day Earth and other planets, based on the study of meteorites. The approach developed combines theoretical and practical approaches.

Hourly volumes:

• CM: 18h
• TD: 9h
• Practical work: 9h

Recommended prerequisites:

Mathematics or physics; basic mineralogy-crystallochemistry: the content of the "Earth and its resources" course in L1 Earth-Water-Environment is an ideal prerequisite for this course.

Continuous assessment (CC)

Synthetic description of the concepts covered in CM :

1) Geophysics/Astrophysics (12 CM)

• Setting the scene: Universe
• Formation of the Solar System (star, nebula, protoplanet)
• Dynamics and evolution of the Solar System (revolution/orbit, rotation, interaction between bodies: precession, nutation, tidal effects)
• Planetary interiors and their evolution (geophysical tools, space missions)
• Exoplanets

2) Geochemistry (6CM)

• Nucleosynthesis/element abundances
• Meteorites
• Composition of the primitive Earth, present-day Earth and other planets

Summary description of TD sessions and number of hours associated with each session

• Evolution of the Earth-Moon system (3 h): use angular momentum to calculate the rate at which the Moon is moving away - simple calculations to estimate the future of the system.
• Detecting exoplanets (3h): using radial velocity and transit methods
• Geochemistry (3h): Chemical composition of Mars (notion of mass balance, density).

Synthetic description of TP sessions and number of hours associated with each session

• Martian seismology (6h): using seismological data from the InSight mission
• Macroscopic observations of different groups of meteorites (3h).

• Determine the main physical characteristics of a planet from observations
•  Understand the physical phenomena that govern the shape and movement of planets
•  Learn how to describe minerals and rocks
•  Identify the different groups of meteorites
•  How to perform a geochemical mass balance