QUESTION:
I will be starting college in the fall and I plan on majoring in geology.  I
want to ultimately become a planetologist in hopes of working for NASA but I
am unsure as to what direction to go as far as education.  Would I need a
specialized degree (like a Masters or PhD) in Planetology or Geology in
order to study other planets?

ANSWER from Jeff Plescia on July 18, 1997:
If you wish to pursue a research career then you will certainly need a Ph.D. 
Depending upon your exact interest, you would be best served by obtaining a
degree in the relevant terrestrial based science. That is to say, if you are
interested in planetary geology, then it would be best to get a BS in
geology and then go on to a doctoral program in the specific area of
interest, say volcanology or hydrology.

You should also take a variety of science courses.  Most planetary problems
seem to require a variety of data sources and it helps to have chemisty and
physics and a good math background.