Terrestrial Analogs Slideshow

Planetary scientists study bodies across the solar system. While it would be very helpful to visit these locations and study them directly, traveling to these locations is difficult, time consuming, and expensive. Fortunately, the Earth displays many similar landforms and geologic processes (for example, volcanic eruptions) that are also observed on other planetary bodies. These locations on Earth (called terrestrial analogs) can be studied more easily than other planetary bodies, and the basic geologic principles can then be used to better understand similar sites across the solar system. Terrestrial analogs can be used for a wide variety of science investigations, but also for training, technology demonstrations, route (traverse) planning, and field simulations.