LPL Newsletter for April 2021
Thursday, April 1, 2021
This month's newsletter highlights the breadth of LPL research activities in both space and time. In space, it ranges from the study of an otherworldly place on Earth, Iceland, to planets around other stars. In time, it ranges from a volcanic eruption that started this month in Iceland (and a spacecraft mission to Io, where such eruptions are likely to happen during the course of the mission) to studies of the origin of water on Earth—which happens to be the theme of this spring's Arizona Science Lecture Series . The first lecture, premiering on April 6, 6:00p.m. MST, is presented by LPL Assistant Professors Jessica Barnes and Pierre Haenecour. In their talk titled Beyond Earth, Jessica and Pierre will explore the cosmic origins of water and organic molecules, how they were delivered to the Earth, and how the exploration of asteroid Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission will help elucidate how Earth became habitable. Visit the Arizona Science Lecture Series for details.
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Probing Alien Worlds: NASA's Pandora Missions Builds on UArizona Research
Tools and methods developed at the University of Arizona will help scientists study the atmosphere of exoplanets as part of NASA's Pandora mission concept.
On the Scene: the First Eruption of Mount Fagradalsfjall in 6,000 years
Associate Professor Christopher Hamilton is in Iceland monitoring the volcanic eruption of Mount Fagradalsfjall and spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper about the experience.
IVO Volcano Observer: Following the Heat and Hunting for Clues to Planet Evolution
Regents Professor Alfred McEwen is principal investigator for the Io Volcano Observer mission, which would visit Jupiter’s moon Io, a volcanic wonderland with hundreds of erupting volcanoes gushing tons of molten lava and sulfurous gases.