zoom_in Click to enlarge

David Jewitt

▲ ▼

description David Jewitt Overview

David Jewitt is a modern British astronomer specializing in planetary science. His research focuses on the outer solar system, particularly the Kuiper Belt. He is notable for co-discovering 1992 QB1, the first Kuiper Belt object identified beyond Pluto. This work contributes to our understanding of planet formation and the characteristics of icy bodies in that region.

Jewitt’s research benefits planetary scientists and astronomers studying these distant objects.

help David Jewitt FAQ

What major astronomical discovery is David Jewitt famous for?

Alongside his colleague Jane Luu, David Jewitt discovered the first trans-Neptunian object, known as 1992 QB1, proving the existence of the Kuiper Belt. This monumental finding provided the physical evidence needed to support the theory of a massive belt of icy bodies beyond Pluto.

Where does astronomer David Jewitt currently teach and conduct research?

Jewitt is a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he works in the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences. He focuses his research heavily on the outer solar system and active asteroids.

Did David Jewitt win the Shaw Prize for his astronomical discoveries?

Yes, David Jewitt and Jane Luu were jointly awarded the prestigious Shaw Prize in Astronomy in 2012. They were honored for their discovery and characterization of trans-Neptunian bodies, fundamentally changing our understanding of the solar system's formation.

What is the "Kuiper Cliff," and how does David Jewitt's research relate to it?

The Kuiper Cliff refers to the sudden, unexplained drop-off in the number of icy bodies found beyond a certain distance from the sun. David Jewitt's ongoing surveys of the outer solar system helped identify this bizarre boundary, which may point to the existence of a massive undiscovered planet like Planet Nine.