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Professor Jonathan Fortney


I am interested in the physics, chemistry, atmospheres, and evolution of a wide range of planets. In my theory and modeling work, while I mostly focus on exoplanets, which we are just beginning to understand, I try to make connections with our own solar system’s planets, for which we have abundant data from a long history of research.

I was previously a member of the science teams for NASA’s Kepler mission, that found 5000 exoplanets, and NASA’s Cassini mission, that unraveled many of Saturn’s mysteries. Here at Santa Cruz, I am the director of the Other Worlds Laboratory, which seeks to build and foster new collaborations in studying planets.  As of July 1, 2023, I am also serving as the Department Chair in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Recent News

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https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/06/fortney-simons-investigator.html
UC Santa Cruz News › 2021/06 › fortney-simons-investigator
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June 29, 2021 … The Simons Foundation has appointed Jonathan Fortney, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, as a Simons Investigator…
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https://news.ucsc.edu/2021/06/fortney-simons-investigator.html
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https://news.ucsc.edu/2020/09/fortney-farinella-prize.html
UC Santa Cruz News › 2020/09 › fortney-farinella-prize
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Sep 22, 2020 Jonathan Fortney, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, awarded the 2020 Paolo Farinella Prize from …
<news.ucsc.edu
https://news.ucsc.edu/2020/09/fortney-farinella-prize.html
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https://news.ucsc.edu/2016/04/nasa-missions.html
UC Santa Cruz News › 2016/04 › nasa-missions
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Apr 21, 2016 … Jonathan Fortney, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, using that data to learn about the internal structure …
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https://news.ucsc.edu/2016/04/nasa-missions.html
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The Other Worlds Laboratory

Director of The Other Worlds Laboratory