1. Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons
Blue Marble Matches:
Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons
PRESENTER:
Paige Valderrama Graff
NASA Johnson Space Center

2. Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons
Blue Marble Matches:
Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons

3. Today we will:
Identify common characteristics to describe features in images.
Identify geologic processes and features and how they form on Earth.
Create a list of criteria/descriptors to identify geologic features.
Build a planetary comparison feature grid.

4. PLANETARY BODY COMPARISONS:
BLUE MARBLE MATCHES
CONTEXT FOR ACTIVITY:
NASA explores planetary bodies, including Earth, to better understand our Solar System.
How do scientists determine what geologic features exist on other planets?
It starts with making good observations, developing criteria, and using what we know about Earth.
PLANETARY BODY COMPARISONS:
Use Earth as your home laboratory!

5. BEING DESCRIPTIVE
Listen to the image description and try to identify the image being described.

6. BEING DESCRIPTIVE
What were good descriptive characteristics (descriptors) or good ways to describe the features in these images.

7. So what are these images all about?

8. 4 Geologic Processes: So what are these images all about? WIND WATER
VOLCANIC
IMPACT

9. So what are these images all about?
Which images would you pair together that represent the same geologic process.
4 Geologic Processes:
1) WIND:
Images ___ and ___
2) WATER:
3) VOLCANIC:
4) IMPACT:

10. E X A M P L E So what are these images all about?
Which images would you pair together that represent the same geologic process.
4 Geologic Processes:
1) WIND:
Images ___ and ___
2) WATER:
3) VOLCANIC:
4) IMPACT:
Images _3__ and _8__
E X A M P L E

11. BLUE MARBLE MATCHES Developing Identification Criteria
Aeolian Fluvial Impact Volcanic
(Wind) (Water)
You will work with a set of sample images representing
each of these geologic processes.

12. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
BLUE MARBLE MATCHES
PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
First we will work on the top part of your planetary comparison feature grid: EARTH
new

13. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
BLUE MARBLE MATCHES
PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category.
2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image.

14. BLUE MARBLE MATCHES EXAMPLE: PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category.
2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image.
EXAMPLE:
Image sample matched with KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME.
KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together
SAND DUNES

15. 3 1 BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID Features
1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category.
2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image.
KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together
SAND DUNES 3
Features 1
Feature
(2 images)

16. 3 1 BLUE MARBLE MATCHES PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID Features
1. Place the image cards under the correct geologic process category.
2. Match the best KEY WORDS and FEATURE NAME with the image.
KEY WORDS: Ripple-like, particles grouped together
SAND DUNES 3
Features
1)Sand Dunes
2)Wind Streaks
3)Yardangs
1)Valley/Drainage Network
2)Channel
3)Delta
1)Volcano
2)Caldera
3)Lava Flows 1
Feature
(2 images)
1)Impact Crater

17. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
BLUE MARBLE MATCHES
PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID

18. PRACTICE YOUR KNOWLEDGE:
For Each Of The Following Images Discuss:
1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Sample Answer:
Process: Impact
Key words: Circular feature, raised rim, smooth flat floor (you don’t need all key words, but at least some of them – directly from their word cards they have be
en working with)
Feature: Impact crater

19. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Channel

20. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Wind streaks

21. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Lava flows

22. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Volcano or caldera

23. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Sand dunes

24. 1) What Process? 2) What Key Words?
3) What Feature?
Impact crater

25. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
BLUE MARBLE MATCHES
PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
First we worked on the top part of the planetary comparison feature grid: EARTH
NOW let’s figure out what processes and features exist on other worlds.

26. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID

27. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID FOR YOUR PLANETARY WORLD…
Place images under the correct geologic process category.
Write name of feature on POST-IT and put with image.
Write key words to support your feature identification.

28. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID FOR YOUR PLANETARY WORLD…
Place images under the correct geologic process category.
Write name of feature on POST-IT and put with image.
Write key words to support your feature identification.
NOTES: A. There is not an “even” # of images or features per category.
B. Focus in on what you feel is the “main” feature in each image.
C. Think about what you may be unsure about.
D. You may run out of space on your grid for a given process.

29. PLANETARY COMPARISON FEATURE GRID
SHARE YOUR RESULTS
What planetary world did you investigate?
What processes exist on this planetary world? (wind, water, volcanic, impact??)
Point out 2 identified features are you MOST CONFIDENT about. (sand dunes, delta, lava flows, impact crater, etc.)
Point out 2 identified features you are LEAST CONFIDENT about (& why). (sand dunes, delta, lava flows, impact crater, etc.)
State 1 inference you can make about this planetary world.

30. Supplemental Components
Getting students actively involved with NASA exploration and discovery.
Student Investigation Resources
Launchpad Activities
Getting Started
Standards-aligned, inquiry-based, hands-on activities.
Resources that help facilitate student-led investigations about Earth and/or planetary comparisons.
Modeling the Process of Science
Interacting w/ Scientists
Educator Trainings
Data Requests
Team Wiki
Pages
Supplemental Components
Team Presentations

31. Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons
Blue Marble Matches
Using Earth for Planetary Comparisons
Activity available for download at:
Astromaterials Research
& Exploration Science
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