Jean-Luc Margot
Encyclopedia
Jean-Luc Margot is a Belgian-born astronomer
and a Professor at UCLA. He specializes in planetary science
s. He was awarded the H. C. Urey Prize
by the American Astronomical Society
in 2004.
Margot is a radar and optical astronomer who has discovered and studied several binary asteroid
s. He obtained the first images of binary near-Earth asteroids and described formation of the binary by a spin-up process.
He is also known for determining that Mercury has a molten core from the analysis of small variations in the spin rate of the planet.
The asteroid
9531 Jean-Luc
is named after him.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
and a Professor at UCLA. He specializes in planetary science
Planetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
s. He was awarded the H. C. Urey Prize
H. C. Urey Prize
The Harold C. Urey Prize is awarded annually by the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. The prize recognizes outstanding achievement in planetary science by a young astronomer. The prize is named after Harold C. Urey....
by the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
in 2004.
Margot is a radar and optical astronomer who has discovered and studied several binary asteroid
Binary asteroid
A binary asteroid is a system of two asteroids orbiting their common center of mass, in analogy with binary stars. 243 Ida was the first binary asteroid to be identified when the Galileo spacecraft did a flyby in 1993...
s. He obtained the first images of binary near-Earth asteroids and described formation of the binary by a spin-up process.
He is also known for determining that Mercury has a molten core from the analysis of small variations in the spin rate of the planet.
The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
9531 Jean-Luc
9531 Jean-Luc
9531 Jean-Luc is a main belt asteroid with an orbital period of 1220.0360832 days .The asteroid was discovered on August 30, 1981. It is named after the astronomer Jean-Luc Margot....
is named after him.