LPL Spotlight Stories

Artist’s impression of HAT-P-11b, an exoplanet orbiting its host star at just just one-twentieth of the distance from the Earth to the sun. Denis Bajram/University of Geneva

Astronomers Detect Signature of Magnetic Field on an Exoplanet

Researchers have identified the first signature of a magnetic field surrounding a planet outside of our solar system. Earth's magnetic field acts as a shield against energetic particles from the sun known as the solar wind. Magnetic fields could play similar roles on other planets.
Comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is seen next to globular star cluster M3 in this image taken by Adam Block at UArizona's Mount Lemmon Sky Center. Adam Block/Steward Observatory/University of Arizona

Here's How to See Comet Leonard, According to the UArizona Researcher Who Discovered It

The brightest comet of the year, named "Leonard" after the UArizona researcher who discovered it, is paying one last visit to Earth's neighborhood this month, before leaving the solar system forever.

Near-Earth Asteroid Might be a Lost Fragment of the Moon

A team of UArizona-led researchers think that the near-Earth asteroid Kamo`oalewa might actually be a miniature moon.
Artist's Concept of OSIRIS-REx's return to Earth with a sample from asteroid Bennu in September 2023. NASA/Goddard/CILabs

UArizona Ranked in Top 10 for Space Science on Latest US News Best Global Universities List

The University of Arizona has once again been recognized as one of the world's top 100 research institutions by U.S. News & World Report.
OSIRIS-REx mission scientists thought sampling a piece of Bennu would be like a walk on the beach, but the surprisingly craggy surface proved to be more of a challenge. NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Highly Porous Rocks Responsible for Bennu's Surprisingly Craggy Surface

Using data from NASA OSIRIS-REx mission, a University of Arizona-led team of scientists concluded that asteroids with highly porous rocks, such as Bennu, should lack fine-grained material on their surfaces.
An artist impression of a close flyby of the metal-rich near-Earth asteroid 1986 DA. Astronomers using the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility have confirmed that the asteroid is made of 85% metal. Addy Graham/University of Arizona

'Mini Psyches' Give Insights into Mysterious Metal-Rich Near-Earth Asteroids

New research into metal-rich asteroids reveals information about the origins and compositions of these rare bodies that could one day be mined.
Artist's illustration of two massive objects colliding.

Earth and Venus Grew up as Rambunctious Planets

What doesn't stick comes around: Using machine learning and simulations of giant impacts, researchers at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory found that the planets residing in the inner solar systems were likely born from repeated hit-and-run collisions, challenging conventional models of planet formation.
In 2135, asteroid Bennu will make a close flyby of Earth. Our planet's gravity will tweak Bennu's path, making it a challenge to calculate its future trajectory. During the flyby, Bennu has an extremely small chance of passing through a gravitational keyhole that would set it on a path to impact Earth late in the 22nd century. NASA/Goddard

OSIRIS-REx Improves Understanding of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

NASA and UArizona scientists were able to significantly reduce uncertainties about asteroid Bennu's orbit and determine the likelihood of the asteroid impacting Earth between now and the year 2300.

Mars Lake Hypothesis on Ice After Study Offers Different Explanation

Scientists have long debated what's under the surface of Mars' south pole. A new study points to clays being more likely than a subsurface lake.
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.