Focus on Graduate Students

The merge between astronomy and geology, necessary to get humans to the moon, led to the birth of modern-day planetary science and a long history of field trips that continue to this day, enabling fledgling scientists to interpret data from far-off worlds without leaving Earth.

Two new studies by UA space scientists may bring into question the habitability of TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets, three of which are in the habitable zone of space.

The first unbiased survey of protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars in the Taurus star-forming region turned up a higher-than-expected number of disks with features suggesting nascent planets.

A team led by UA doctoral student Teddy Kareta obtained a rare glimpse of the bizarre, blue asteroid that is responsible for Geminid Meteor Shower.

The UA's Class of 2017 has it all, from a planetary scientist who has studied Pluto to a would-be chaplain. In the first part of a two-part series, we introduce four graduates who are poised to make an impact in the world.

New research led by Michael Sori of the UA's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory shows that Ceres, a dwarf planet orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, may have vanishing ice volcanoes.

Research by two UA planetary scientists reveals fascinating clues about Pluto, suggesting the small world at the fringes of our solar system is much more active than anyone ever imagined.

Pluto’s "heart" may be cold as ice, but it’s in the right place, according to two UA scientists who believe the dwarf planet’s iconic, heart-shaped region of frozen ice may have shifted its location — and dragged the entire planet with it.

Billions of years ago, intense volcanic activity on the moon's Earth-facing side caused its axis to tilt, a team of researchers has discovered. Two UA planetary scientists helped unlock this secret by tracing ancient water ice deposits at the bottom of shadowed craters where sunlight never reaches.

Graduate students in the Lunar and Planetary Lab and undergraduates in the art education department joined forces to make this year's "Art of Planetary Science" exhibition a success.