What is the fundamental practice of comparative planetology?

Using telescopes to measure the precise distance between Earth and Mars.

Comparing landforms on a planet like Mars to familiar ones on Earth to infer their origin.

Sending astronauts to collect and return Martian rock samples for detailed laboratory analysis.

Creating computer simulations to predict the future climate of Mars.

A scientist observes a large, shield-shaped mountain on Mars that strongly resembles Mauna Loa, a shield volcano in Hawaii. According to the principles of comparative planetology, what is the most likely conclusion?

The mountain on Mars must be the exact same age as Mauna Loa.

The Martian mountain was likely formed by volcanic processes similar to those on Earth.

Earth and Mars were once a single planet that broke apart.

This proves that plate tectonics are currently active on Mars.

It is the only method that can detect liquid water under the surface.

It allows scientists to infer past geologic processes on a world that is difficult to visit directly.

It confirms that Mars has an active, molten core just like Earth does.

Mars is too far away for telescopes to see any surface features, making comparison necessary.

Similarity in shape and structure.

Identical chemical composition.

This would prove the planet is geologically dead and has not changed in billions of years.

The planet must have been formed in a different solar system and was captured by our sun's gravity.

It would suggest the planet's geologic history has been dominated by processes not common or active on Earth.

This finding would invalidate all previous geological conclusions made about planets like Mars.