The first step toward becoming a planetary geologist is to obtain a college education in a geosciences field that includes Earth geology. Planetary geologists are multidisciplinary professionals who need to be educated in both geoscience and astronomical fields such as astronomy and astrophysics. Because planetary geology is solely concerned with the physical makeup of celestial bodies, as well as their orbital and rotational dynamics, advanced education in physics, math, and chemistry is required. Some space research programs, such as NASA’s in the United States, also provide extended education opportunities for teachers, geologists, astrophysicists, and undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career as a planetary geologist.
Obtaining an undergraduate degree in geology and a more advanced degree, such as a master’s degree in astrophysics, would be a well-rounded approach to becoming a planetary geologist. This would give people a basic understanding of how geological processes work on Earth, as well as a more advanced understanding of celestial bodies’ physical properties. However, because planetary science careers are interdisciplinary, there are numerous career paths to becoming a planetary geologist in the geological and astronomical sciences.
Taking special summer sessions in planetary geology offered undergraduate universities in the United States could also help you get started on the path to becoming a planetary geologist. Planetary geology is the focus of a 2006 listed program at Idaho State University in the United States for kindergarten to 12th grade teachers, as well as students majoring in physical science who want to become planetary geologists. It entails the investigation of a variety of celestial bodies, ranging from planets and moons to asteroids and comets. Volcanic activity and plate tectonics on planets like Mars and Venus are among the geology aspects of such programs. To enroll in such a course, a student must have completed a basic geology course or equivalent study and be working toward a degree in planetary science or natural science.
In the United States, there are also programs that pair state universities with NASA to train as planetary geologists. The Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program in Oregon, which began in 2011 and continues to this day, places undergraduate students in mentoring relationships with NASA researchers across the country. Students in US-based geoscience or astronomy programs who have not yet begun their graduate degree work, as well as foreign students from outside the US, are eligible to apply. The program is an eight-week summer course designed to supplement a planetary and geophysical sciences education.
Graduate programs in planetary geology are commonly referred to as astrogeology or exogeology, and these terms should be used when looking for planetary geologist training because it is a specialized field that is not offered most university systems. Several more widely taught areas of basic geological science, such as mineralogy, petrology, and hydrogeology, can often be obtained as preparatory work through local universities. Because much of the research involves computer modeling and digital mapping of celestial surfaces, modern planetary geologist requirements include some computer science education.