Michael E. Brown is an American astronomer and professor of planetary astronomy at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He is best known for his work in the study of dwarf planets and trans-Neptunian objects in the outer solar system. Here are some key projects and contributions associated with Michael E. Brown:
Discovery of Eris: One of Michael Brown's most notable achievements was his role in the discovery of the dwarf planet Eris in 2005. Eris is one of the largest known objects in the Kuiper Belt, and its discovery played a significant role in the debate over the definition of a planet, leading to the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet.
Haumea and Makemake: Brown and his team were also responsible for the discovery of other trans-Neptunian objects, including Haumea and Makemake. These discoveries expanded our understanding of the diversity of objects in the outer solar system.
Sedna: Brown was part of the team that discovered Sedna, a distant and unusual object that orbits the Sun in a highly elliptical orbit. The discovery of Sedna raised questions about the formation and early history of the solar system.
Inner Oort Cloud: Brown has been involved in researching the inner Oort Cloud, a region of the solar system populated by comets with extremely long orbital periods. His work has helped shed light on the dynamics of these distant objects.
Caltech Wide Area Sky Survey (CWISE): Brown led the CWISE project, which aimed to discover new distant solar system objects and investigate their properties. This survey used advanced imaging techniques to scan the sky for previously unknown objects.
Popular Science Communication: Michael E. Brown is known for his efforts to communicate science to the public. He has written books, given public talks, and engaged in outreach activities to share his enthusiasm for astronomy and planetary science.
Educational Contributions: In addition to his research, Brown is a professor at Caltech and has played a role in training the next generation of astronomers and planetary scientists.
Awards and Honors: Brown has received several awards and honors for his contributions to astronomy and planetary science, including the Richard P. Feynman Award for Excellence in Teaching at Caltech.
Michael E. Brown's work has significantly expanded our knowledge of the outer solar system and reshaped our understanding of what constitutes a planet. His research and discoveries continue to have a lasting impact on the field of astronomy.