It is considered that materials in the earth experienced high temperature around the formation epoch. Meanwhile, the current earth is full of life and water. How did the Oceans form? How did life on the earth originate? Planetary scientists have looked for evidences for life and water on the earth investigating primordial bodies in the solar system such as comets, asteroids, and interplanetary dust particles.

Our research group has studied these primordial bodies in the solar system to reveal the formation and evolution process of our planetary system through observations in optical and infrared wavelengths. We utilized ground-based telescopes (e.g. Subaru telescope), space telescopes (e.g. AKARI) and remote-sensing devices onboard a spacecraft Hayabusa-1. At present, we are involved in the Hayabusa-2 project that will explore a C-type asteroid containing organic matter and probably water. We shall keep investigating our planetary system in a wide variety of techniques.

[Homepage] https://astro.snu.ac.kr/~ishiguro/