Special Session 11 - Comparative planetary geology: Terrestrial analogues to Mars and the Moon in the Arctic

Gordon R. Osinski (Canadian Space Agency) and Pascal Lee (Mars Institute, SETI Institute, & NASA Ames Research Center)

Sponsored by the GAC Geophysics Division

These are exciting times for planetary science. There are currently more active robotic space missions than at any other time in history. Humans will return to the Moon in the next 10–15 years and will one day explore Mars, using the Moon as a stepping-stone to demonstrate technologies and to do science. Mars is of particular importance and interest because it is geologically one of the most Earth-like bodies in the Solar System and has had a long history of aqueous activity. Current missions such as NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers and ESA's Mars Express are providing a wealth of new data that may lead to an improved understanding of Mars' geological and potential biological history. However, interpretations of Mars must begin by understanding and using the Earth as a reference. Terrestrial analogues are settings on Earth that may approximate, in some respect, the geological features and/or environmental conditions on Mars or other planetary bodies, either at present or some time in the past. The Arctic offers a plethora of potential analogue sites, including vast regions of continuous permafrost, polar deserts, meteorite impact craters, glacial landscapes, perennial springs, ice-covered lakes, and unique biological habitats. The aim of this session is twofold: 1) to highlight the wide variety of analogue studies being conducted in the Arctic; and 2) to encourage collaboration between the solid earth and planetary science communities.