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Jean-Luc Margot (born 1969) is a Belgian-born astronomer and a UCLA professor with expertise in planetary sciences and SETI.
Jean-Luc Margot | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969 (age 54–55) |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (PhD 1999) Universite Catholique de Louvain (B.S. 1993) |
| Awards | H. C. Urey Prize |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | planetary physics, astrophysics |
| Institutions | UCLA |
| Doctoral advisor | Donald B. Campbell |
Margot has discovered and studied several binary asteroids with radar and optical telescopes. His discoveries include (87) Sylvia I Romulus, (22) Kalliope I Linus, S/2003 (379) 1, (702) Alauda I Pichi üñëm, and the binary nature of (69230) Hermes.
In 2000, he obtained the first images of binary near-Earth asteroids and described formation of the binary by a spin-up process.[1][2] Margot and his research group have studied the influence of sunlight on the orbits and spins of asteroids, the Yarkovsky and YORP effects.[3][4][5]
In 2007, Margot and collaborators determined that Mercury has a molten core from the analysis of small variations in the rotation rate of the planet.[6][7] These observations also enabled a measurement of the size of the core based on a concept proposed by Stan Peale.[8][9]
In 2012, Margot and graduate student Julia Fang analyzed Kepler space telescope data to infer the architecture of planetary systems.[10] They described planetary systems as "flatter than pancakes."[11] They also showed that many planetary systems are dynamically packed.[12]
Margot proposed an extension to the IAU definition of planet that applies to exoplanets.[13][14]
Between 2006 and 2021, Margot and collaborators measured the spin of Venus with a radar speckle tracking technique. They measured the orientation and precession of the spin axis. They also measured the duration of the length of day and the amplitude of length-of-day variations, which they attribute to transfer of momentum between the atmosphere and the solid planet.[15][16]
Since 2016, he has conducted searches for technosignatures using large radio telescopes with UCLA students.[17][18] Volunteers can contribute to SETI through the "Are we alone in the universe?" citizen science collaboration.[19]
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Margot was awarded the H. C. Urey Prize by the American Astronomical Society in 2004.[20] The asteroid 9531 Jean-Luc is named after him.[21]
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