LPL Spotlight Stories

The NEOWISE infrared-wavelength astronomical space telescope has made well over a million infrared observations of more than 39,000 asteroids and comets throughout the solar system. NASA/JPL

NASA Extends UArizona-Led Asteroid Search Mission

For two more years, NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or NEOWISE, will continue its hunt for asteroids and comets – including objects that could pose a hazard to Earth.
Artist’s illustration of the early solar system, at a time when no planets had formed yet. A swirling cloud of gas and dust surrounded the young sun. The cutaway through this so-called protoplanetary disk shows its three-dimensional structure.

Researchers Trace Dust Grain's Journey Through Newborn Solar System

Combining atomic-scale sample analysis and models simulating likely conditions in the nascent solar system, a new study reveals clues about the origin of crystals that formed more than 4.5 billion years ago.
The NEO Surveyor infrared space telescope is optimized for finding, tracking and characterizing potentially hazardous asteroids and comets. The spacecraft’s sunshade (silver vertical part) blocks out sunlight and keeps the telescope shielded so that it can search for the faint heat signatures from Earth-approaching objects. The asteroids will appear as strings of dots (color-coded red in the background image) that will stand out against the background stars (color-coded blue). NASA/JPL

UArizona to Lead Mission to Discover Potentially Dangerous Asteroids

NASA has tasked Amy Mainzer, an expert in infrared astronomy at the University of Arizona, with delivering NEO Surveyor, a mission to find, track and characterize yet unseen asteroids and comets that may pose a threat to Earth.
An artist’s concept of asteroid 16 Psyche. Maxar/ASU/P.Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech

Asteroid 16 Psyche Might Not Be What Scientists Expected

New UArizona research finds that the target asteroid of NASA's Psyche mission may not be as metallic or dense as previously predicted.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, depicted in an artist rendering, uses its Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism to touch the surface of the asteroid Bennu to collect a sample. A new gift will help the OSIRIS-REx team purchase a tool to examine the sample when it returns to Earth in 2023.

$2M Gift Advances UArizona Space Science Initiatives

The gift will enable the purchase of a nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer, an instrument the analysis team will use to help find answers to fundamental questions about the origins of the solar system.
Zoe Zeszut painted mythological birds perched on the Bennu features that carry their names.

Bennu in the Sky, on the Canvas and (Soon) in Zoe Zeszut's Hands

Zoe Zeszut painted mythological birds perched on the Bennu features that carry their names.
This image, the last one taken by the spacecraft, shows crescent Bennu with its night side melting with the complete black of space as the spacecraft pushed away from Bennu. The photo was taken with NavCam, one of three camera instruments designed and built by Malin Space Systems. NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft is Headed Home with Asteroid Sample

After nearly five years in space, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is on its way back to Earth with an abundance of rocks and dust from near-Earth asteroid Bennu.
Recent explosive volcanic deposit around a fissure of the Cerberus Fossae system. NASA/JPL/MSSS/The Murray Lab

Volcanoes on Mars Could be Active, Raising Possibility that the Planet was Recently Habitable

New observations reveal that Mars could still be volcanically active, raising the possibility for habitable conditions below the surface of Mars in recent history.
Photo of Carina Bennett by Chris Richards

Behind the Scenes with Carina Bennett

In 2019, the University of Arizona rolled out a new brand, Wonder, rooted in the university’s purpose and values and designed to capture the spirit of curiosity that powers Wildcat creativity and ingenuity.

Beyond Ordinary

Mapping Bennu: UArizona alumna’s wonder moment begins with the OSIRIS-REx mission and a pinpoint of light.