Research

We perform observational studies of planetesimals and planets within our Solar System using ground and space-based telescopes. Much of our research involves studying specific populations orbiting the Sun, but we also perform in-depth investigations of planetary surfaces as well as individual objects such as minimoons and interstellar objects. We obtain data using dedicated time on world-class facilities such as ESO (the European Southen Observatory) and Gemini Observatory, plus wide-field sky surveys. Data from observatories and space missions provide the basis for our citizen science projects.

Members of the Solar System group participate in several international projects such as Pan-STARRS (Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System), ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), the Vera C. Rubin Observatory , LSST:UK, the LCO (Las Cumbres Observatory) Outbursting Objects Key (LOOK) Project, HERA, and Comet Interceptor.

Latest Group Publications

• A. Penttilä, G. Fedorets & K. Muinonen. 2022. Taxonomy of Asteroids From the Legacy Survey of Space and Time Using Neural Networks Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. 9, 816268.


• L. E. Buchanan, M. E. Schwamb, W. C. Fraser, M. T. Bannister, M. Marsset, R. E. Pike, D. Nesvorný, J. J. Kavelaars, S. D. Benecchi, M. J. Lehner, S-Y Wang, N. Peixinho, K. Volk, M. Alexandersen, Y-T Chen, B. Gladman, S. Gwyn, and J-M Petit, 2022, Col-OSSOS: Probing Ice Line/Color Transitions within the Kuiper Belt's Progenitor Populations, PSJ, 3, 9


• W.C. Fraser, S. D. Benecchi, J. J. Kavelaars, M. Marsset, R. Pike, M. T. Bannister, M. E. Schwamb, K. Volk, D. Nesvorný, M. Alexandersen, Y-T, Chen, S. Gwyn, M. J. Lehner, & S-Y Wang, 2021, Col-OSSOS: The Distinct Colour Distribution of Single and Binary Cold Classical KBOs, PSJ, 2, 90


• H.H. Hsieh, A. Fitzsimmons, B. Novaković, Bojan, L. Denneau, A.N. Heinze, 2021, The transient Jupiter Trojan-like orbit of P/2019 LD2 (ATLAS), Icarus, 354, 114019


• A. N. Heinze, L. Denneau, J. L. Tonry, S. J. Smartt, N. Erasmus, A. Fitzsimmons, J. E. Robinson, H. Weiland, H. Flewelling, B. Stalder, A. Rest, & D. R. Young, 2021, NEO Population, Velocity Bias, and Impact Risk from an ATLAS Analysis PSJ, 2, 12


• S. P. Naidu, M. Micheli, D. Farnocchia, J. Roa, G. Fedorets E. Christensen, & R. Weryk, 2021, Precovery Observations Confirm the Capture Time of Asteroid 2020 CD3 as Earth's Minimoon, ApJL, 913, L6


• C. Opitom, E. Jehin, D. Hutsemékers, Y. Shinnaka, J. Manfroid, P. Rousselot, S. Raghuram, H. Kawakita, A. Fitzsimmons, K. Meech,M. Micheli, M., C. Snodgrass, C. ; B. Yang, O. Hainaut, 2021, The similarity of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov to Solar System comets from high-resolution optical spectroscopy,A&A, 650, L19


• G. Fedorets , M. Micheli, R. Jedicke, S. P. Naidu, Shantanu, D. Farnocchia, M. Granvik, N. Moskovitz, M. E. Schwamb, R. Weryk, K. Wierzchoś, E. Christensen, T. Pruyne, W. F. Bottke, Q. Ye, R. Wainscoat, M. Devogèle, L. E. Buchanan, A. A. Djupvik, D. M. Faes, D. R. Föhring, J. Roediger, T. Seccull, & A. B. Smith, 2020, Establishing Earth's Minimoon Population through Characterization of Asteroid 2020 CD3, AJ, 160, 277


• J.E. Robinson, W.C. Fraser, A. Fitzsimmons & P. Lacerda, P. 2020, Investigating gravitational collapse of a pebble cloud to form transneptunian binaries A&A, 643,A55