Asteroid Moons in the Solar System with Dr. Kate Minker

Studying an asteroid’s surface reveals its past, with evidence of giant impacts, solar-driven spin changes, and more. For 30 years, spacecraft have offered close-up views of a handful of asteroids, but modern technology on the world’s largest telescopes now makes it possible to study asteroid surface features from the ground for the first time. In this talk, Dr. Kate Minker will share the latest discoveries about asteroids and their moons, along with the newest high-resolution Asteroid Family Picture! Dr. Kate Minker is a Percival Lowell Postdoctoral Fellow at Lowell Observatory studying the shape, dynamics, and composition of small bodies in the Solar System, with a focus on binary asteroids. She earned her Ph.D. in 2025 through research completed at the Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur in Nice, France, and the European Southern Observatory in Santiago, Chile. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing and fiber arts. This program is included with General Admission.