Solar and Planetary Systems

The team conducts research on three themes:

(1) Solid planets and satellites of the solar system

(2) Asteroids and comets

(3) Exoplanets

Using instruments aboard space missions, the team measures the composition of planetary surfaces and atmospheres.

The aim is to characterize the processes of physicochemical and climatic evolution in order to trace the history of the planets.

Particular attention is paid to water and carbon: where and in what state are they found in the Solar System today? What is their history, from primordial inputs to contemporary processes? What is Earth's place in the diversity of planets and exoplanets?

The team's recent research has focused in particular on Mars, water- and carbon-rich asteroids, the icy moons of Jupiter, Mercury and the atmospheres of exoplanets. The composition of these objects is studied using spectrometers and visible and infrared imagers.

Our approach combines observation, data analysis, numerical modeling and laboratory simulation. One of the team's distinguishing features is its direct involvement in the construction of numerous space instruments, with a constant concern to combine scientific and technological challenges. The team also works on microscopic analysis analysis of extraterrestrial samples, in close collaboration with the astrochemistry team.

Dernières news

With MicrOmega at ISAS, IAS performs the first analysis of samples collected from Ryugu

4 years 1 month ago

JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission carried out a collection, never accomplished before, of samples of a very primitive carbonaceous asteroid, and successfully brought them back to Earth in early December 2020. The samples are now stored in the “Curation Facility” of ISAS, in Sagamihara (Japan), in ultra-clean chambers, in a controlled atmosphere, where initial analyzes are being carried out. These include a pioneer characterization by infrared hyperspectral microscopy, using the MicrOmega instrument developed at IAS, and integrated into the Curation Facility.

OSIRIS-REx has collected samples from the surface of asteroid Bennu!

4 years 7 months ago

On October 21st, 2020, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft succeeded in touching asteroid Bennu to collect samples from the surface. Launched in September 2016 and in orbit since December 2018, it was doing a detailed survey of the surface to map and select the best sample collection site. OSIRIS-REx will deliver the samples to Earth in September 2023.

The « MicrOmega-Curation Facility » successfully delivered to ISAS

4 years 11 months ago

Despite the drastic constraints driven by the sanitary limitations to technical activities at IAS, and the travel ban to Japan, the MicrOmega team at IAS managed to thoroughly develop, test, and calibrate the MicrOmega instrument, and to deliver it to the curation facility of the Hayabusa2 at ISAS, the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, on Friday July 3, 2020, after its performances had been demonstrated as excellent.

BepiColombo has flown by the Earth en route to Mercury

5 years 2 months ago

One and a half year after its launch in October 2018, the BepiColombo spacecraft has performed an Earth flyby on April 10, 2020, so as to reach Venus on its way to an orbital insertion around Mercury end of 2025. BepiColombo is the first European mission using ionic propulsion, which makes it possible to implement major changes in the trajectory with a limited impact on the mass budget.

Mercury transit on November the 11th, 2019

5 years 8 months ago

During the Mercury transit on November the 11th, 2019, IAS researchers and the ALCOR astronomy club will organize an afternoon with observations of the Sun, conferences, and workshops. This event will take place on the University campus at the new physics teaching building, "hbar" (building 625).

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