On 21 October, Alexander Basilevsky, head of the Laboratory of Comparative Planetology of Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a graduate of the Faculty of Geology, gave a lecture on the role of comparative planetology in geology at Voronezh State University. The lecture was attended by the university’s students and staff.
Alexander Basilevsky talked about the structure of the solar system, and described each planet covering the following points: general information, the history of research and its key results, as well as further research prospects.
“My scientific interests are quite different from what geologists usually study. Using images and samples provided by astronauts, we try to study various planets and celestial bodies. By doing so we want to find out the origin of the planets, and whether there is life there.”
In his lecture, Alexander Basilevsky also talked about the ways Earth is similar to other planets, the origins of the Moon, the components of the moon soil, whether Mercury used to be a Venus's satellite, and what Maat Mons and mount Everest have in common. He also talked about the climate and landscapes on various planets, whether there is water or atmosphere there, as well as about common geological and geochemical processes.
“All celestial bodies in the solar system seem to be so different, and yet they have a lot in common,” said Alexander Basilevsky.
During the lecture he also showed unique modern and older pictures of celestial bodies made by Russian and American specialists.
