Meteorites: Rocks from Space

Director, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Department Head, Planetary Sciences
Professor, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Professor, Planetary Sciences
Professor, Geosciences

Dr. Swindle uses measurements of the noble gases in extraterrestrial materials (lunar samples and meteorites) to study the evolution of the solar system.

His research projects include using 40Ar-39Ar dating to determine the timing of impact events on the Moon and on asteroids, and studying Martian meteorites to understand the history of the Martian atmosphere and its interaction with surface materials. Past research projects have included using I-129, and its decay product Xe-129, to study the timing of the formation of the earliest solids in the solar nebula, and working on developing techniques to use instruments on spacecraft to measure ages of planetary surfaces in situ.