
Small Bodies
About
LPL has long been a leader in researching the small bodies of the solar system. Active research includes:
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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.
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NEO Surveyor, optimized for the task of finding and characterizing the impact risks posed by potentially hazardous objects.
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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.
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The OSIRIS-APEX mission, led by Assistant Professor Dani DellaGiustina, will reprise the discoveries of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at a second asteroid, Apophis.
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Several groups active in meteorite research, led by professors Jessica Barnes, Pierre Haenecour, Dante Lauretta, and Tom Zega.
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Research into the orbital evolution of the main asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt, led by Regents Professor Renu Malhotra.
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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

Erik Asphaug
Professor

William Boynton
Professor Emeritus

Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina
Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX

Uwe Fink
Professor Emeritus

Pierre Haenecour
Assistant Professor

Walter Harris
Professor

Ellen Howell
Research Professor

Dante Lauretta
Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor

Amy Mainzer
Principal Investigator, NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor, Professor

Renu Malhotra
Louise Foucar Marshall Science Research Professor, Regents Professor

Angela Marusiak
Assistant Research Professor

Robert (Bob) McMillan
Research Professor (Retired)

Michael Nolan
Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor

Vishnu Reddy
Professor

Timothy Swindle
Professor Emeritus

Tom Zega
Professor
Other Researchers
Small Bodies Researchers

Namya Baijal
PTYS Graduate Student

Adam Battle
PTYS Graduate Student

Jacob Bernal
DCC Postdoctoral Research Associate (Zega), NSF Postdoctoral Fellow

Melissa Brucker
Principal Investigator, Spacewatch, Research Scientist

David Cantillo
PTYS Graduate Student

Rishi Chandra
PTYS Graduate Student

Laura Chaves
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Matthew Chojnacki
DCC Associate Research (McEwen)

Jason Corliss
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist

Adeene Denton
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Carson Fuls
Director, Catalina Sky Survey, PTYS Graduate Student

Tommy Grav
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist
Devin Hoover
PTYS Graduate Student

Kana Ishimaru
PTYS Graduate Student

Steve Larson
Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist

Cassandra Lejoly
Research Scientist/Observer, Spacewatch

Kiana McFadden
PTYS Graduate Student

Robert Melikyan
PTYS Graduate Student

Samuel Myers
PTYS Graduate Student

Stephen Schwartz
DCC Associate Staff Scientist (Asphaug)

Sarah Sutton
Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist

Harry Tang
PTYS Graduate Student
Support Staff
Small Bodies Support Staff

Dolores Hill
Research Specialist, Senior

Todd Horne
R&D Engineer/Scientist, NEO Surveyor