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Small Bodies
About
LPL has long been a leader in researching the small bodies of the solar system. Active research includes:
- Two world-renowned groundbased asteroid survey programs: SPACEWATCH®, directed by Dr. Melissa Brucker, claims a number of firsts in hunting for small bodies, many related to being the first to use CCD-scanning routinely; and Catalina Sky Survey, under the direction of Eric Christensen, has led the world in asteroid discoveries each year since 2005.
- The first American asteroid sample-return mission. OSIRIS-REx, with Professor Dante Lauretta as the Principal Investigator, was launched in 2016, arrived at asteroid Bennu in 2018, began its return to Earth in 2021, and is on track for Fall 2023 delivery.
- The OSIRIS-APEX mission, led by Assistant Professor Dani DellaGiustina, will reprise the discoveries of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at a second asteroid, Apophis.
- Several groups active in meteorite research, led by professors Jessica Barnes, Pierre Haenecour, Dante Lauretta, and Tom Zega.
- Research into the orbital evolution of the main asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt, led by Regents Professor Renu Malhotra.
- LPL also has a long history of comet research, which continues with new and ongoing studies by Professor Walter Harris and Professor Emeritus Uwe Fink.
Faculty
Small Bodies Faculty
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Erik Asphaug
Professor
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William Boynton
Professor Emeritus
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Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina
Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX
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Uwe Fink
Professor Emeritus
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Pierre Haenecour
Assistant Professor
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Walter Harris
Professor
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Ellen Howell
Research Professor
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Dante Lauretta
Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor
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Renu Malhotra
Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor
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Angela Marusiak
Assistant Research Professor
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Robert (Bob) McMillan
Research Professor (Retired)
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Michael Nolan
Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor
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Vishnu Reddy
Professor
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Timothy Swindle
Professor Emeritus
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Tom Zega
Professor
Other Researchers
Small Bodies Researchers
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Namya Baijal
PTYS Graduate Student
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Adam Battle
PTYS Graduate Student
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Jacob Bernal
DCC Postdoctoral Research Associate (Zega), NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
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Melissa Brucker
Principal Investigator, Spacewatch, Research Scientist
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David Cantillo
PTYS Graduate Student
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Rishi Chandra
PTYS Graduate Student
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Laura Chaves
Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Matthew Chojnacki
DCC Associate Research (McEwen)
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Jason Corliss
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
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Samuel Crossley
Researcher/Scientist
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Adeene Denton
Postdoctoral Research Associate
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Ruby Fulford
PTYS Graduate Student
Carson Fuls
Director, Catalina Sky Survey, PTYS Graduate Student
Devin Hoover
PTYS Graduate Student
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Kana Ishimaru
PTYS Graduate Student
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Steve Larson
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
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Cassandra Lejoly
Research Scientist/Observer, Spacewatch
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Kiana McFadden
PTYS Graduate Student
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Robert Melikyan
PTYS Graduate Student
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Samuel Myers
PTYS Graduate Student
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Stephen Schwartz
DCC Associate Staff Scientist (Asphaug)
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Sarah Sutton
Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist
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Harry Tang
PTYS Graduate Student
Support Staff
Small Bodies Support Staff
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Dolores Hill
Research Specialist, Senior