Senior Scientist and Associate Director
Planetary Science Institute
drd
@psi.edu
Research Areas:
Asteroid Collisional Evolution
Lunar Origin
Planetesimal Dynamical Studies
Dr. Davis, senior scientist and associate director of PSI, is interested in the
origin and evolution of the planetary system. He conducts hypervelocity
impact experiments using the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range and applies
dynamical theory and computational modeling to study planetesimal accretion
and the collisional history of asteroids, satellites, and particles in
planetary rings. He is also involved in ground-based observations of
asteroids and infrared searches for intra- Mercurian bodies. He is actively
involved with light pollution issues and currently is the president of the
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and chairs the Pima County Outdoor
Lighting Committee. Asteroid number 3638 is named in honor of Dr. Davis.
