Susan Benecchi - Planetary Science Institute

Targets of Interest: Charon, Comets, Dwarf Planets, Kuiper Belt, Pluto, Trans-Neptunian Objects

Disciplines/Techniques: Astrometry, Education/Public Outreach (EPO), Ground-Based Observing, Photometry, Space-Based Observing

Missions: New Horizons

Instruments: HST WFC3

Facilities: JWST, HST, Subaru, Gemini, Magellan

Dr. Susan Benecchi is passionate about astronomical research and inquiry-based science education. Her research focuses on small bodies, often binaries, in the outer solar system. She is a Co-I on the New Horizons Kuiper Belt Extended Mission and co-lead of the Planetary Astronomy sub-group therein. She also teachings Astronomy and worldview at an online Classical Christian homeschool.

Active Projects

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Outer Solar System Objects at Opposition

Susan Benecchi

Institutional PI

NASA

Solar System Observations Program

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Project Team (1)

Amanda Sickafoose

External Partners (1)

The University of Virginia

Are Dark, Red, Small KBOs Devoid of Volatiles?

Susan Benecchi

Principal Investigator

NASA

James Webb Space Telescope General Observer Program-Cycle 2

KBOs

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External Partners (5)

Southwest Research Institute Space Telescope Science Institute University of Virginia University of Victoria Lowell Observatory

Constraining the Origin and Dynamical Evolution of Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects through NIR Spectroscopy

Susan Benecchi

Institutional PI

NASA

James Webb Space Telescope General Observer Program-Cycle 3

JWST NIR Spectroscopy Spectroscopy +1

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External Partners (9)

Space Telescope Science Institute Southwest Research Institute University of Central Florida Northern Arizona University The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Pinhead Institute Institute of Space Sciences and Technologies Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma