Name Jean-Luc Margot | Role Astronomer | |
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astrobiology origin and distribution of life in the universe jean luc margot at mindshare la
Jean-Luc Margot (born 1969) is a Belgian-born astronomer and a UCLA professor who specializes in planetary sciences.
Contents
- astrobiology origin and distribution of life in the universe jean luc margot at mindshare la
- Asteroids
- Mercury
- Exoplanets
- Honors and awards
- References
Asteroids
Margot has discovered and studied several binary asteroids with radar and optical telescopes. In 2000, he obtained the first images of binary near-Earth asteroids and described formation of the binary by a spin-up process. Margot and his research group have studied the influence of sunlight on the orbits and spins of asteroids, the Yarkovsky and YORP effects.
Mercury
In 2007, Margot and collaborators determined that Mercury has a molten core from the analysis of small variations in the spin rate of the planet. These observations also enabled a measurement of the size of the core based on a concept proposed by Stan Peale.
Exoplanets
In 2012, Margot and graduate student Julia Fang analyzed Kepler data to infer the architecture of planetary systems. They described planetary systems as "flatter than pancakes." They also showed that many planetary systems are dynamically packed.
Honors and awards
Margot was awarded the H. C. Urey Prize by the American Astronomical Society in 2004. The asteroid 9531 Jean-Luc is named after him.