Planetary Science
Planetary science is a scientific field situated at the interface of the geosciences and astronomy. Research in this domain relies on methods championed by these respective fields and targets key questions related to planet formation, planetary evolution, habitability and the origins of life. Within the Netherlands the planetary science field is mainly demarcated by research focussed on geoscience topics targeting solar system objects. In parallel important interfaces and collaborations with astronomy subfields have evolved, where planetary geoscience and (exo-)planetary astronomy offer complementarity and create an interdisciplinary ecosystem to solve scientific questions of mutual research foci.
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Themes, topics and locations
Based on ongoing projects and the sand-pit session carried out for developing the Expertise Network proposal and available information from past interactions with the NPP, we have tried to map the themes and topics for the major planetary science hubs in the Netherlands.
News articles
The latest news articles about recently awarded projects and outcomes of planetary research projects.
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Small chip, grand mission: searching for signs of extraterrestrial life
Read more: Small chip, grand mission: searching for signs of extraterrestrial lifeIs life possible – or has it ever been possible – on other planets? The (Origin of) Life Marker Chip (LMCOOL) seeks the answer. This innovative chip is being developed by a Dutch consortium led by Dr Niels…
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Veni grant to explore habitability of Uranian moons
Read more: Veni grant to explore habitability of Uranian moonsSeveral icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn harbour subsurface oceans potentially suitable for life. In contrast, our knowledge of Uranian moons is limited, as Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby remains the only visit. To improve our understanding, Dr Marc…
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ERC Advanced Grant for unveiling the hidden oceans of Jupiter and Saturn’s moons
Read more: ERC Advanced Grant for unveiling the hidden oceans of Jupiter and Saturn’s moonsThe oceans of several moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are considered among the most promising environments for finding extraterrestrial life. Buried beneath kilometres of ice, the moons’ surfaces may carry crucial information about the oceans below. Dr. Stéphanie…