Planetary Groups in London
The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck
The Centre for Planetary Sciences at UCL/Birkbeck (CPS) is a centre of excellence for research in planetary sciences, based on a collaboration between three departments at University College London and one at Birkbeck, University of London, via the following research groups:
CPS members play key, and sometimes leading, roles in planetary space missions such as Cassini Huygens, ExoMars Rosalind Franklin, JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey), PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) and Comet Interceptor. The Centre continues to be involved in the European Union-funded Europlanet project that brings together Europe's major planetary science centres. One of our members currently chairs the Ireland-UK Hub of the Europlanet Society.
The current CPS Board is formed by Dominic Papineau (Director), Nick Achilleos, Ian Crawford, Jo Fabbri (secretary), Geraint Jones and Ingo Waldmann. Other key academic staff at the CPS include Andrew Coates, Hilary Downes, Ramy El-Maarry, Jay Farihi, Steve Fossey, Eleanor Jennings, Adrian Jones, Nick Lane, Jan-Peter Muller, Gerald Roberts, Jonathan Tennyson, Giovanna Tinetti, Vincent Van Eylen, Lidunka Vočadlo and Sergey Yurchenko.
Our expertise includes astrobiology, evolved planetary systems, exoplanets, lunar geology and lunar resources (see also Birkbeck’s listing), magnetospheres, planetary interiors, planetary physics and plasmas, small bodies and dust, and planetary surfaces.
Current research projects include:
The diversity of lunar basalts at the Apollo 12 landing site
The lunar surface as a recorder of astrophysical processes
Lunar resources
The origin and evolution of ureilite meteorites
Faulting on Mars
Deep learning in exoplanet atmospheric characterisation
The oldest fossils and biosignatures on Earth
Mineralogy of planetary interiors
Moon-magnetosphere interactions at the outer planets
Comet science: dust, neutral and ionized gases
Our facilities include:
Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, micro-Raman, Focused Ion Beams, laser ablation ICP-MS, planetary GIS software, the UK's only NASA Regional Planetary Imaging Facility (RPIF), the ExoMol database (molecular line lists for exoplanet and other hot atmospheres), and the UCL Observatory (UCLO). Instrument hardware for planetary missions is designed, built, calibrated, and operated at MSSL.
Associated Centres:
The Centre for Space Exochemistry Data (CSED):
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/space-exochemistry-data/
You can find further information at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/planetary-sciences
- The (Exo)Planetary Systems Group, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCL
- The Planetary Science Group and the Imaging Group, Department of Space and Climate Physics, UCL (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, MSSL)
- Some researchers within the following groups in the Department of Earth Sciences , UCL: Crystallography and Mineral Physics; Deep Volatiles; The London Geochemistry and Isotope Centre; Micropaleontology; Precambrian Research; Rock and Ice Physics Laboratory.
- The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck
CPS members play key, and sometimes leading, roles in planetary space missions such as Cassini Huygens, ExoMars Rosalind Franklin, JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), ARIEL (Atmospheric Remote-sensing Exoplanet Large-survey), PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) and Comet Interceptor. The Centre continues to be involved in the European Union-funded Europlanet project that brings together Europe's major planetary science centres. One of our members currently chairs the Ireland-UK Hub of the Europlanet Society.
The current CPS Board is formed by Dominic Papineau (Director), Nick Achilleos, Ian Crawford, Jo Fabbri (secretary), Geraint Jones and Ingo Waldmann. Other key academic staff at the CPS include Andrew Coates, Hilary Downes, Ramy El-Maarry, Jay Farihi, Steve Fossey, Eleanor Jennings, Adrian Jones, Nick Lane, Jan-Peter Muller, Gerald Roberts, Jonathan Tennyson, Giovanna Tinetti, Vincent Van Eylen, Lidunka Vočadlo and Sergey Yurchenko.
Our expertise includes astrobiology, evolved planetary systems, exoplanets, lunar geology and lunar resources (see also Birkbeck’s listing), magnetospheres, planetary interiors, planetary physics and plasmas, small bodies and dust, and planetary surfaces.
Current research projects include:
The diversity of lunar basalts at the Apollo 12 landing site
The lunar surface as a recorder of astrophysical processes
Lunar resources
The origin and evolution of ureilite meteorites
Faulting on Mars
Deep learning in exoplanet atmospheric characterisation
The oldest fossils and biosignatures on Earth
Mineralogy of planetary interiors
Moon-magnetosphere interactions at the outer planets
Comet science: dust, neutral and ionized gases
Our facilities include:
Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, micro-Raman, Focused Ion Beams, laser ablation ICP-MS, planetary GIS software, the UK's only NASA Regional Planetary Imaging Facility (RPIF), the ExoMol database (molecular line lists for exoplanet and other hot atmospheres), and the UCL Observatory (UCLO). Instrument hardware for planetary missions is designed, built, calibrated, and operated at MSSL.
Associated Centres:
The Centre for Space Exochemistry Data (CSED):
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/space-exochemistry-data/
You can find further information at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/planetary-sciences
Birkbeck College London
Planetary science at Birkbeck is led by Ian Crawford ([email protected]), with involvement of Hilary Downes, Gerald Roberts, Eleanor Jennings and, from August 2018, Ramy El-Maarry.
Our expertise includes lunar geology (both remote sensing and sample analysis), lunar resources, planetary petrology, meteoritics and astrobiology.
Current research projects include:
Our facilities include:
Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, laser ablation ICP-MS, planetary GIS software, and access to the UK's only NASA Regional Planetary Imaging Facility (RPIF).
You can follow our work and find contact information at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/geology/
Our expertise includes lunar geology (both remote sensing and sample analysis), lunar resources, planetary petrology, meteoritics and astrobiology.
Current research projects include:
- The diversity of lunar basalts at the Apollo 12 landing site
- The lunar surface as a recorder of astrophysical processes
- Lunar resources
- The origin and evolution of ureilite meteorites
- Faulting on Mars
Our facilities include:
Scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, laser ablation ICP-MS, planetary GIS software, and access to the UK's only NASA Regional Planetary Imaging Facility (RPIF).
You can follow our work and find contact information at http://www.bbk.ac.uk/geology/
Imperial College London - Impact and Astromaterials Research Centre
The Impact and Astromaterials Research Centre at Imperial College operates a diverse research program in planetary sciences including cosmochemistry, meteorites and cosmic dust, planetary geology, organic chemistry and impact processes. In particular our research specialises in the development of numerical and analytical techniques for planetary science. Our group has seven academic research team leaders: Gareth Collins, Matthew Genge, Sanjeev Gupta, Joanne Morgan, Adrian Muxworthy, Mark Rehkamper, and Mark Sephton.
Current research themes include:
Our facilities include:
Organic chemistry laboratories specialising in characterisation of organic materials within extraterrestrial samples. The palaeomagnetism laboratory that includes instrumentation applied to remnant magnetic fields within meteorites and cosmic dust. The MAGIC chemical and isotope laboratories that specialise in high precision characterisation of the isotopic abundances within planetary materials.
You can find further information at:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/earth-science/research/research-groups/iarc/
Current research themes include:
- Numerical modelling of impact processes
- The characterisation of large impact structures
- Numerical modelling of atmospheric entry
- The study of cosmic dust
- The origins of life and pre-biotic organic chemistry
- Sedimentology and environments on Mars
- Magnetic processes in the Early Solar System
- Isotope cosmochemistry of meteorites
Our facilities include:
Organic chemistry laboratories specialising in characterisation of organic materials within extraterrestrial samples. The palaeomagnetism laboratory that includes instrumentation applied to remnant magnetic fields within meteorites and cosmic dust. The MAGIC chemical and isotope laboratories that specialise in high precision characterisation of the isotopic abundances within planetary materials.
You can find further information at:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/earth-science/research/research-groups/iarc/
Imperial College London – Space and Atmospheric Physics Group
The “Space and Atmospheric Physics" (SPAT) group in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London currently conducts research in planetary science through data analysis, in particular of magnetic field observations, and through comprehensive modelling. The group consist of 4 key academics in planetary physics: Michele Dougherty, Marina Galand, Adam Master and Ingo Mueller-Wodarg.
Current research projects include:
- Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn
- Planetary magnetic field modelling
- Magnetosphere/Ionosphere coupling, especially at Jupiter and Saturn
- Ganymede’s plasma environment at Jupiter
- Titan’s environment at Saturn
- Icy satellites such as Enceladus, Dione, Rhea, Thethys and their interaction with Saturn's magnetosphere
- Analysis of atmosphere/ionosphere/magnetic environment around Venus
- Cometary plasma environment and its variability
in close links with space missions, such as Cassini, Venus Express, Rosetta and JUICE.
The group is also focusing on other parts of space physics, in particular heliospheric physics and solar-terrestrial physics. It is a world-renown laboratory for the development of magnetic field instruments.
You can find further information at:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/space-and-atmospheric-physics
Current research projects include:
- Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn
- Planetary magnetic field modelling
- Magnetosphere/Ionosphere coupling, especially at Jupiter and Saturn
- Ganymede’s plasma environment at Jupiter
- Titan’s environment at Saturn
- Icy satellites such as Enceladus, Dione, Rhea, Thethys and their interaction with Saturn's magnetosphere
- Analysis of atmosphere/ionosphere/magnetic environment around Venus
- Cometary plasma environment and its variability
in close links with space missions, such as Cassini, Venus Express, Rosetta and JUICE.
The group is also focusing on other parts of space physics, in particular heliospheric physics and solar-terrestrial physics. It is a world-renown laboratory for the development of magnetic field instruments.
You can find further information at:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/space-and-atmospheric-physics
Natural History Museum, London
Three researchers, Sara Russell, Peter Grindrod, and Paul Schofield, lead our group which includes two curators, four postdoctoral researchers and five Ph.D. students, as well as many scientific associates and co-supervised students based at institutions across the U.K. Our work is built on the world-class NHM Meteorite Collection, which includes a significant collection of falls and supports research internationally (Principal Curator: Caroline Smith).
Our expertise includes carbonaceous chondrites, lunar meteorites, sample curation, planetary remote sensing, and Mars surface processes.
Current research projects include:
Our facilities include:
X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray computed tomography, laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS, and planetary GIS software and facilities.
You can follow our work and find contact information at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/earth-sciences/mineral-and-planetary-sciences.html, and on Twitter (@NHM_Meteorites)
Our expertise includes carbonaceous chondrites, lunar meteorites, sample curation, planetary remote sensing, and Mars surface processes.
Current research projects include:
- EURO-CARES – a roadmap for a European Sample Return Curation Facility
- The geological history of water-rich asteroids
- Processing of C-complex asteroids
- Metamorphism of primitive matrix in CO chondrites
- The origin and evolution of enstatite chondrites
- Active surface processes on Mars
- The source regions of martian meteorites
- The geological history and surface evolution of Mars
- European Space Agency: Exploration sample analogue collection and curation facility
Our facilities include:
X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray computed tomography, laser ablation and solution-based ICP-MS, and planetary GIS software and facilities.
You can follow our work and find contact information at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/earth-sciences/mineral-and-planetary-sciences.html, and on Twitter (@NHM_Meteorites)