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At the Earth and Planets Laboratory, we work at the frontier of human knowledge. We discover new worlds, create new materials, illuminate the inner workings of our planet, and seek to understand the universe that is our home. In 2020 we merged the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism (est.1904) and the Geophysical Lab (est.1905) to create a new multidisciplinary department. By combining a century of scientific trailblazing, we are better suited than ever to collaborate, discover, and innovate.
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Asteroid discovered by Carnegie’s Scott Sheppard right before it zooms past Earth

While surveying the sky for distant objects, astronomer Scott Sheppard discovered a new asteroid a little closer to home. Asteroid 2020 YE5 poses no immediate risk, but it will come very close to Earth. The asteroid will zoom past only 437,691 km away from Earth, almost as close as our own Moon. It will be at its nearest on Friday, January 22 at around 9:08 AM EST (14:08 UTC). According to Sheppard, someone with a good backyard telescope could catch a glimpse.
Carnegie Alum Awarded Geological Society of America’s MGPV Early Career Award

The Geological Society of America has announced that they will present their Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Petrology, and Volcanology Division’s Early Career Award to Carnegie alum Xiao-Ming Liu in 2021.
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Earth and Planets Laboratory scientists regularly explore our planet and the universe. Along the way they capture images of stunning landscapes, geophysical processes and data visualizations.
Browse our online image gallery to share in the journey of scientific exploration and discovery.
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