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About

Michael S. P. Kelley is a leading planetary astronomer whose research focuses on the thermal and physical properties of asteroids and comets, with a particular emphasis on understanding their composition, activity, and evolution. His most impactful work includes the thermophysical characterization of asteroid (101955) Bennu, the target of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, using thermal infrared observations. This study, cited over 130 times, provided critical insights into Bennu’s surface properties, thermal inertia, and regolith behavior, directly informing mission planning and sample site selection. Kelley’s contributions extend to the study of cometary activity, as demonstrated by his detection of new or increased activity in the Centaur (2060) 95P/Chiron using ATLAS observations. This work revealed a brightening event starting in February 2021, offering rare evidence of volatile-driven activity in a distant, transitional object. With a citation count exceeding 140 across his most cited papers, Kelley’s research bridges asteroid science and cometary studies, advancing our understanding of small bodies in the solar system. His achievements highlight the power of multi-wavelength observations and survey data in uncovering the dynamic nature of these primitive objects.