UCLA Researcher Alan Rubin featured in New York Times article
Dr. Alan Rubin, a researcher at UCLA and meteorite identification expert, was interviewed for a recent article by the New York Times. The article and Alan discuss the discovery of several meteorites in Florida and the history of the parent asteroid they likely came from. To read the full article, click here:...
read moreUCLA Professor emeritus narrows space between astronomy, environmentalism
UCLA Astronomy Professor Emeritus Ben Zuckerman was recently featured in the Daily Bruin for his passion for environmentalism, conservation, and sustainability. Read more about Ben’s lifelong work here:...
read moreProfessor Ed Young named Fellow of two geochemical associations
Congratulations to Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Professor Ed Young who has been named a Fellow of the Geochemical Society and of the European Association of Geochemistry. The award is “bestowed upon outstanding scientists who have, over some years, made a major contribution to the field of geochemistry”. Ed will be honored at the Goldschmidt meeting in Yokohama this...
read morePlanets on Parade
Late January and early February have provided spectacular views of the planets in the early morning sky. It is the first time that the bright planets that can be seen with the naked eye have been simultaneously visible since 2005. In their outward order from the sun, the five bright planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. They are visible because they are large and relatively close compared with other celestial objects like stars. Their surfaces and disks reflect sunlight and shine steadily, compared to the distant twinkling...
read moreBidding Farewell to UCLA Professor Mike Jura
It is with sadness that we report the passing of UCLA professor and distinguished astronomer, Michael Jura. A facet to the Department of Physics and Astronomy and an active member of iPLEX, Mike always encouraged the interdisciplinary blending of planetary science and astronomy. He made major contributions to the fields of theoretical and observational astronomy and was influential in the development of infrared astronomy and the Infrared Laboratory at UCLA, which now has instruments in many terrestrial and space telescopes. His presence will...
read moreUCLA scientists study the Moon-forming impact using oxygen isotopes
UCLA scientists Ed Young, Issaku Kohl, Paul Warren, and their collaborators are featured in Science today (January 29, 2016) with their paper “Oxygen isotopic evidence for vigorous mixing during the Moon-forming giant impact.” Using their new Panorama high-resolution mass spectrometer, which is housed at UCLA, the team has performed ultra-high precision oxygen isotope analyses of lunar samples. The compositions match those of Earth’s mantle rocks to within a few parts-per-million (in the Δ17O parameter), demonstrating that the Earth...
read moreUCLA Astronomer Gives TED Talk
UC President’s Postdoctoral Program Fellow Dr. Aomawa Shields was awarded a TED Fellowship, which included giving a TED talk about how she searches for clues that life might exist elsewhere in the universe by examining the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. The classically trained actress-turned-astronomer also discusses her passion for engaging young women in the sciences through theater and...
read moreUCLA scientists attend the 47th annual American Astronomical Society’s Division of Planetary Science meeting
Direct from the 2015 Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS) Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, pictured is a small fraction of UCLA’s EPSS students and researchers from the Jewitt and Margot Research Groups; (left to right) Man-To Hui, Ariel Graykowski, Danielle Hastings, Ashok Verma, Dave Milewski, Oliver Bowman, and Adam Greenberg, with 3 posters and 2 talks: –107.05. Mercury’s gravity field, tidal Love number k2, and spin axis orientation revealed with MESSENGER radio tracking data –307.04. Improved Algorithms for...
read moreiPLEX and space scientists featured in UCLA’s Prime Magazine
The Institute for Planets and Exoplanets (iPLEX) is currently featured in UCLA’s Prime Magazine. The article, written by UCLA student Allison Ong recaps the efforts of the institute and individuals to promote planetary and space science at UCLA and within the broader community over the past four years, from hosting conferences to building a public outreach program. The article is available at newsstands on the UCLA Campus and online...
read moreUCLA Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences Distinguished Alumni Lecture
From the Sun to the Edge of the Solar System Dr. David J. McComas, ’86 Assistant Vice President, Space Science & Engineering, Southwest Research Institute Professor of Physics, University of Texas San Antonio The Sun produces a million mile per hour wind of hot ionized gas that flows out all directions in space all of the time. This solar wind interacts with the planets and other objects in the solar system and, at Earth, produces both beautiful aurora and dangerous space weather that can kill orbiting satellites. Further out, the...
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