LPL Spotlight Stories
Bear Down 100: Tagging an Asteroid
When it came time to actually land on asteroid Bennu and collect a sample, it took the scientific know-how and meticulous dedication found in University of Arizona LPL researchers to make that mission a reality.
Asteroid Bennu's Rugged Surface Baffled NASA. We Finally Know Why
In one of the biggest surprises of the OSIRIS-REx mission, its target asteroid, Bennu, turned out to be a jagged, rugged world covered in large boulders.
Bear Down 100: Mapping the Moon
By the time President John F. Kennedy announced in 1961 that the United States would land a man on the moon before the end of the decade, a small group of University of Arizona researchers were already studying the lunar surface. Their work would quickly become integral to the success of future robotic and Apollo missions.
Large Craters Offer Clues to the Origin of Asteroid 16 Psyche
Using computer simulations, researchers at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory model the formation of giant impact basins, or craters, on 16 Psyche in preparation for the arrival of NASA's Psyche mission in 2029.
Jupiter’s Shape Redefined by the Juno Mission
A new study involving LPL Professor Emeritus William Hubbard updates our understanding of the shape of Jupiter.
Lunar & Planetary Lab Director Mark Marley Awarded Prestigious Lecar Prize
Endowed by the estate of astrophysicist Myron S. Lecar, the prize honors exceptional contributions to the study of extrasolar planets and theoretical astrophysics.
Kissing the Sun: U of A Researchers Unravel Mysteries of the Solar Wind
Using data collected by NASA's Parker Solar Probe during its closest approach to the sun, LPL Associate Professor Kris Klein and his research team measured the dynamics and ever-changing "shell" of hot gas from where the solar wind originates.
Pandora, a Keen-eyed Satellite Built to Study Exoplanets, Takes Flight
After clearing its last hurdle on its way to space, the University of Arizona-led Pandora satellite mission launched into orbit, where it will study at least 20 exoplanets and their host stars over long periods of time.
Life on Lava: How Microbes Colonize New Habitats
Taking advantage of a "natural laboratory" in Iceland, a research team from the University of Arizona studied how microbes colonize fresh lava flows as soon as they cooled.