Mike Brown Assistant Professor of Planetary Astronomy Hometown:Pasadena, CA Education:AB Physics, Princeton 1987; PHD Berkeley 1994 Current Research:Planetary Astronomy

---

Research Activities:

• Exploration of the outer solar system We are in the middle of a 3-year large-scale search for the brightest members of the Kuiper belt in the outer solar system. Click here for details of the survey. In addition, we are obtaining infrared spectra and millimeter thermal emission measurements from the largest and nearest of the current to understand their surface properties.
• Europa's surface composition Using spectroscopy of the atmosphere of Europa, we are attempting to determine the composition of the trace constituents of Europa's surface to help understand the existence of a sub-surface ocean.
• Extra-solar planetary systems We are investigating the use of high-resolution thermal infrared imaging from Keck to look for evidence of planetary systems around nearby stars.
• Cometary spectroscopy We have an ongoing program to observe bright comets at high spectral resolution at visible wavelengths. Comets Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp were especially good targets for us.
• The Io/Jovian magnetosphere interaction We have been performing long-term observations of Io's atmosphere and Jupiter's magnetosphere to understand the interactions between the two.

Selected Publications:

• Here is a list of my publications.

Other Interests:

• Pasadena is great for mountain biking
• Free your heels and your mind will follow.
• Coffee!

Contact:

• email: mbrown@gps.caltech.edu
• homepage: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/
• office: 626.395.8423
• address:

  Division of Geology and Planetary Sciences

  Caltech 150-21

  Pasadena, CA 91125