University of Central Florida

Planetary Science is the study of all objects and processes in planetary systems, excluding those of the central star and generally also excluding the Earth. This exciting discipline of Astronomy draws from Physics, Geology, Geophysics, Cosmochemistry, Meteorology, Atmospheric Chemistry, Magnetospheric and Plasma Physics. Studies of the possibilities of life existing elsewhere in the universe have made Biology a part of Planetary Sciences as well.

The UCF Planetary Sciences Group uses the world’s most powerful telescopes, NASA spacecraft, and supercomputers to investigate fundamental questions such as:

The group runs the Robinson Observatory, which has a 0.5-meter telescope and a digital CCD camera that are available for student use through the UCF Astronomical Society. We also teach AST 2002 Introductory Astronomy, one of the most popular courses at UCF, with over 1500 students enrolled each semester. We hosted the 39th meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in October 2007.

Our astronomy students currently earn the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in physics. Tracks and degrees in Planetary Sciences are planned.

Our group is growing, and opportunities for graduate and postdoctoral research open up frequently. Grant-funded planetary researchers enjoy the university environment and interaction with students while benefitting from competitive pay and benefits and UCF’s low overhead. We are always seeking self-motivated undergraduate students to carry out research, work at the observatory, and tutor AST 2002. If you are interested in joining us and getting hands-on experience with cutting-edge astronomical research, we invite you to contact any member of the group for more information. See the pages of each member of our group for more information on the particular research areas at UCF.