Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 19 minutes ago
One of the most important questions we ask about a body in the solar system is, “What is it made out of?” Understanding the chemical composition of planets, moons, and asteroids tells us about their formation and evolution, as well as how it might relate to Earth and the rest of the Solar System. Rovers and spacecraft can analyze objects and provide the information we need, but there’s nothing like holding a rock in your hand or analyzing a real sample in the lab to understand the makeup of a planet’s crust. In this episode, we talk with a scientist who works with moon rocks and Martian meteorites to characterize the surfaces of these bodies, and we’ll discuss some of the future plans for space missions designed to sample and return bits of space back to Earth.
Dr. Carolyn Crow is an assistant professor of geosciences at CU Boulder. Her work focuses on understanding the evolution of planetary crusts through chemical analyses of firsthand samples like meteorites and moon rocks. Part of her research also supports Nuclear Forensics projects that aim to understand the signatures of underground nuclear explosions and characterizing materials for the international monitoring system.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
One of the most important questions we ask about a body in the solar system is, “What is it made out of?” Understanding the chemical composition of planets, moons, and asteroids tells us about their formation and evolution, as well as how it might relate to Earth and the rest of the Solar System. Rovers and spacecraft can analyze objects and provide the information we need, but there’s nothing like holding a rock in your hand or analyzing a real sample in the lab to understand the makeup of a planet’s crust. In this episode, we talk with a scientist who works with moon rocks and Martian meteorites to characterize the surfaces of these bodies, and we’ll discuss some of the future plans for space missions designed to sample and return bits of space back to Earth.
Dr. Carolyn Crow is an assistant professor of geosciences at CU Boulder. Her work focuses on understanding the evolution of planetary crusts through chemical analyses of firsthand samples like meteorites and moon rocks. Part of her research also supports Nuclear Forensics projects that aim to understand the signatures of underground nuclear explosions and characterizing materials for the international monitoring system.
Fiske is one of the largest planetariums in the US, having served CU Boulder & the local community since 1975. We offer a diverse range of fulldome films, live talks, laser and liquid sky shows, as well as public gatherings for astronomical and NASA-related events.
Follow Fiske Planetarium:
Website | https://www.colorado.edu/fiske
Instagram | instagram.com/fiskeplanet
Facebook | facebook.com/teamfiske
