J. Licandro

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About

J. Licandro is a leading figure in planetary astronomy, with a primary focus on the physical characterization of small solar system bodies—including asteroids, comets, and trans-Neptunian objects—and the study of interstellar interlopers. Their most impactful work centers on the rapid-response photometric analysis of newly discovered objects, a capability that proved critical during the 2025 apparition of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Licandro led the effort to obtain and calibrate multi-band light curves from the global ATLAS network, providing the first detailed look at the object’s rotational and outgassing behavior. This work, which has already garnered over 10 citations in its first year, demonstrates Licandro’s skill in extracting high-quality science from survey-grade data under extreme time pressure. Beyond this headline result, Licandro has a sustained record of contributions to the taxonomy and surface composition of minor planets, often using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy. Their research is distinguished by a combination of observational rigor and a deep understanding of the dynamical processes that shape our solar system and its visitors from afar.