Explore Planetary and
Solar Systems Science at LPL
Welcome to the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Academic Programs at LPL
Interdisciplinary coursework, access to world-class instruments and laboratories, and diverse research opportunities.
Research Focus Areas
Pursuing interdisciplinary research spanning the breadth and depth of planetary science.
Spacecraft Missions and Instrumentation
Exploring the Universe as investigators on spacecraft mission and instrumentation teams.
LPL in the Spotlight
UArizona Researchers Probe How a Piece of the Moon Became a Near-Earth Asteroid
An interesting pathway could have led the moon fragment to reach Earth's orbital space.
James Webb Space Telescope Captures the End of Planet Formation
We know that there is nearly 100 times more gas than solids present when planets form. But today we see only a fraction of that gas in the solar system (stored within gas giant planets like Jupiter). So, when and how did the remaining gas leave the system? New research featuring LPL graduate student Naman Bajaj as lead author seeks to answer this exact question.
Tracking an Errant Space Rocket to a Mysterious Crater on the Moon
A new study shows how a team at the University of Arizona's Space4 Center tracked down a contested piece of space junk that crashed onto the moon and provides an explanation for why it left not one but two craters.
Public Education and Outreach
Faculty, staff, and students engage with diverse communities.
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