Explore Planetary and
Solar Systems Science at LPL
Welcome to the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Academic Programs at LPL
Interdisciplinary coursework, access to world-class instruments and laboratories, and diverse research opportunities.
Research Focus Areas
Pursuing interdisciplinary research spanning the breadth and depth of planetary science.
Spacecraft Missions and Instrumentation
Exploring the Universe as investigators on spacecraft mission and instrumentation teams.
LPL in the Spotlight
Loathed By Scientists, Loved By Nature: Sulfur and The Origin Of Life
A University of Arizona-led study shines a spotlight on sulfur, a chemical element that, while all familiar, has proved surprisingly resistant to scientific efforts in probing its role in the origin of life.
Recent Volcanism on Mars Reveals a Planet More Active than Previously Thought
University of Arizona researchers reconstructed lava flows from spacecraft images and radar to better understand Mars' surprisingly turbulent history.
Pass the Salt: This Space Rock Holds Clues as to How Earth Got Its Water
The discovery of tiny salt grains in an asteroid sample brought to Earth by the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft provides strong evidence that liquid water may be more common in the solar system's largest asteroid population than previously thought.
Public Education and Outreach
Faculty, staff, and students engage with diverse communities.
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