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

First tests of the MAJIS Engineering Model with the JUICE satellite

5 years 8 months ago

« Hello, JUICE ? - Hi MAJIS, nice to meet you ! Let’s have fun ! ;-) »: This is the first message that ADS (Airbus Defense and Space), prime contractor of the ESA JUICE satellite, sent to the MAJIS (Moons And Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer) team, hence validating the EM (Engineering Model) stage of the MAJIS spacecraft.

John Carter awared an EGU "Oustanding Early Career Scientist" medal

6 years 2 months ago

The “Planetary and Solar System Sciences” Division of EGU (European Geophysical Union) has awarded to John Carter, associate astronomer at IAS, its 2019 “Oustanding Early Career Scientist” medal for his discoveries on the composition of the martian surface, in particular hydrated minerals and their implications on the climate history of Mars, and for his contributions to the interpretation of orbital spectral data.

Hayabusa 2 successfully performed the first in situ collection of samples from a Carbon-rich asteroid

6 years 3 months ago

This critical operation, performed on February 22, 2019, constituted the most complex and risky part of the ISAS/JAXA Japanese mission: it required to bring the entire spacecraft in contact with the surface of Ryugu, entirely covered with boulders of all sizes. Its success demonstrates and translates an extraordinary and unique control of space operations by ISAS/JAXA engineers. A second sample collection could be performed in a few months, prior to the return to Earth: Hayabusa2 should leave Ryugu in December 2019, to land on Earth a year later. Our laboratories should thus get in 2021 samples collected at the very surface of one of the most ancient solar system objects, rich in particular of organics which might have played a major role in the evolution towards life on Earth.

The BepiColombo Spacecraft on its way to Mercury !

6 years 8 months ago

The launch of the BepiColombo spacecraft (ESA/JAXA) took place on October 19, 2018 at 10:45 pm from the Ariane 5 site in Kourou. BepiColombo has successfully started its long journey to the planet Mercury, with onboard SIMBIO-SYS, a complex of 3 instruments that will map the surface of the planet with unprecedented spatial resolution and spatial coverage. IAS is co-PI of this instrument through the supply of the main electronics and the implementation of the calibration of the integrated instrument.

Jean-Pierre Bibring has received the COSPAR Space Science Award

6 years 11 months ago

Jean-Pierre Bibring, professor emeritus at Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (CNRS/Université Paris Sud), has received on July 15th, 2018 the COSPAR Space Science Award for his contributions to the exploration of the Solar System. This award is the most prestigious of COSPAR (Committee on Space Research), and is granted at each biennial general meeting. Among Jean-Pierre Bibring's numerous involvements, COSPAR has highlighted his responsibilities in Mars Express and Philae/Rosetta.

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