Michael Mommert

Northern Arizona University, University of St.Gallen

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About

Michael Mommert is an astrophysicist specializing in the physical characterization of near-Earth objects (NEOs) and planetary defense. His research focuses on rapid-response spectrophotometric observations to classify the taxonomy and composition of small, sub-kilometer asteroids—critical for assessing impact hazards and understanding solar system evolution. Mommert leads the multi-observatory, multifilter RATIR campaign, which has delivered the largest uniform dataset of NEO colors to date. His first major work (2019, 5 citations) presented r–i colors for 82 NEOs, demonstrating the feasibility of rapid-response characterization. His most recent study (2024, 2 citations) expanded this to 238 objects, providing taxonomic classifications for previously unstudied sub-kilometer NEOs. These contributions have significantly advanced our knowledge of the smallest and most numerous impactors, directly informing risk assessment models. Mommert’s work is notable for its systematic, high-cadence approach, enabling real-time follow-up of newly discovered asteroids. His research is foundational for future planetary defense missions and for linking meteorite types to their parent bodies.