Jupiter Trojans

Jupiter Trojans are asteroids that co-orbit with Jupiter librating around the L4 and L5 Jovian Lagrange points. These objects are thought to be remnants from the early Solar System, caught and preserved in these unique orbits by Jupiter during the original formation of the gas giant and its orbit. As such, the presence and nature of these objects represents a sort of rocky time capsule, preserving information on the origins and evolution of the Solar System.

I work with a variety of telescopes and techniques to explore the physical parameters of these objects, including their composition, rotational properties, colors, and binarity. The upcoming Lucy Space Mission from NASA that will visit several Jupiter Trojans over the next decade has made an understanding of these objects even more of a priority.