Prof Geraint Jones Inaugural Lecture - All Comets Great and Small

CPS Chair Prof Geraint Jones, UCL Department of Space and Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory), delivers an overview of cometary science at his inaugural lecture. Very many congratulations to Professor Jones on his recent professorial promotion!

Abstract: All Comets Great and Small

Comets constitute some of the oldest objects in the solar system, are are believed to be largely unaltered since the formation of the Earth and the other planets. When these icy bodies approach the Sun, their ices turn to gas, carrying dust into space, sometimes forming spectacular gas and dust tails that can be seen with the naked eye. During the lecture we'll learn about how we learnt about the true nature of these objects, first from ground-based observations, and more recently from spacecraft sent to visit them and to even land on their surfaces. The next steps we face in understanding these enigmatic worlds will be presented, including the exciting Comet Interceptor proposal to the European Space Agency.

This event is free to attend but please register at the Eventbrite page.