Michael E. Brown

Michael E. Brown is the Richard and Barbara Rosenberg Professor of Planetary Astronomy and Terence D. Barr Leadership Chair at Caltech, directing the Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution. He holds a B.A. from Princeton (1987), M.A. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (1990-1994). His academic journey includes roles as Visiting Associate (1995), Assistant/Associate Professor (1997-2004), and full Professor (2005-2008). His research focuses on planetary astronomy and solar system evolution, particularly through telescopic observations and data analysis. He leads studies on distant planets, Europa's subsurface oceans, and icy moon chemistry. Teaching includes courses like 'Applications of Physics to Earth Sciences' and 'Science of the Solar System.'

Research emphasizes planetary dynamics, discovery of new celestial bodies, and interdisciplinary exploration of planetary systems. His team uses JWST and Hubble data to analyze Europa's composition and icy satellites. Notable work includes detecting table salt on Europa and investigating Planet Nine's dynamics. His leadership in the 3CPE integrates astronomy, geology, and biology to study planetary evolution.