Exploring outer space to find distant planets and understand their origin.
Our Research
We aim to discover and understand extrasolar planets, through pioneering detection studies, observations of their nebular birthplaces, modeling of their formation, and using the detection of small bodies in the outer Solar System to understand the origin of our own planetary system.
Research Staff
Alan P. Boss - Theoretical astrophysics; stellar and planetary system formation; extrasolar planets formation and detection
Paul Butler - Observational astrophysics; stellar spectroscopy; precision Doppler instrumentation; extrasolar planets; Sun-like stars; supergiants and Cepheid variable stars
John E. Chambers - Planetary formation theory; planetary dynamics; extrasolar planets
Peter Gao - Planetary atmospheres; exoplanet characterization; planet formation and evolution; astrobiology
Scott S. Sheppard - Small bodies in the solar system including comets, asteroids, satellites, moons, Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud objects; star, planet and solar system formation; brown dwarfs.
Johanna Teske - Exoplanet interior, atmospheric, and host star composition; high-resolution spectroscopy; precision radial velocity measurements.
Alycia J. Weinberger - Observational astrophysics; planet formation and circumstellar disks; star formation; high angular resolution imaging
Technical Staff
Adriana Kuehnel - Scientific Programmer & IT Specialist
Postdoctoral Fellows and Associates
Munazza Alam - Ph.D., Astronomy and Astrophysics, Harvard University (2021)
Shubham Kanodia - Ph.D., Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University (2022)
Anjali Piette - Ph.D., Astronomy, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University (2021)
Tools of the Trade
Theoretical approaches utilize high-performance computing systems both on campus and the Caltech Resnick and Carnegie Memex2 clusters.
