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School of Physical and Chemical Sciences

Dr Craig Agnor

Craig

Senior Lecturer in Astronomy

Email: c.b.agnor@qmul.ac.uk
Telephone: 020 7882 3464
Room Number: G. O. Jones Building, Room 505

Profile

The aim of my research is to understand the origin of planets and satellites.  I am principally interested in how gravitational dynamics determine the orbital structure of planetary systems and how giant collisions may account for the development of particular planetary characteristics (e.g. large obliquities, satellite formation, thermal excess/deficits).  In this work I utilize a combination of analytic theory and numerical simulation (e.g., N-body orbital integrations, hydrodynamic calculations of planetary collisions) to examine the collisional and dynamical evolution of planets.

In the past my work has addressed a variety of topics in solar system evolution including:

  • The formation of the terrestrial planets and the origin of the Earth/Moon system.
  • The capture of Neptune's large retrograde moon Triton.
  • `Giant Impacts' between planets and the origin of planetary characteristics.
  • Understanding the implications of large-scale orbital migration of the solar system's giant planets.

Teaching

My teaching for this year includes:

  • SPA5241 Planetary Systems 
  • SPA5666 Introduction to Scientific Computing
  • SPA6776 Extended Independent Project
  • SPA6913 Physics Review Project
  • SPA7015 Physics Investigative Project
  • I have also written the module MTH6110 Communicating and Teaching Mathematics that is offered through the School of Mathematical Sciences.

Research

Research Interests:

The aim of my research is to understand the origin of planets and satellites.  I am principally interested in how gravitational dynamics determine the orbital structure of planetary systems and how giant collisions may account for the development of particular planetary characteristics (e.g. large obliquities, satellite formation, thermal excess/deficits).  In this work I utilize a combination of analytic theory and numerical simulation (e.g., N-body orbital integrations, hydrodynamic calculations of planetary collisions) to examine the collisional and dynamical evolution of planets.

In the past my work has addressed a variety of topics in solar system evolution including:

  • The formation of the terrestrial planets and the origin of the Earth/Moon system.
  • The capture of Neptune's large retrograde moon Triton.
  • `Giant Impacts' between planets and the origin of planetary characteristics.
  • Understanding the implications of large-scale orbital migration of the solar system's giant planets.

Publications

  • Tinetti G, Drossart P, Eccleston P et al. (2017). The EChO science case. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Masters A, Achilleos N, Agnor CB et al. (2014). Neptune and Triton: Essential pieces of the Solar System puzzle. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Masters A, Achilleos N, Agnor CB et al. (2014). Neptune and triton: Essential pieces of the solar system puzzle. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Arridge CS, Achilleos N, Agarwal J et al. (2014). The science case for an orbital mission to Uranus: Exploring the origins and evolution of ice giant planets. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Liu S-F, Agnor CB, Lin DNC et al. (2015). Embryo impacts and gas giant mergers – II. Diversity of hot Jupiters’ internal structure. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Campanella G, Nelson RP, Agnor CB (2013). Possible scenarios for eccentricity evolution in the extrasolar planetary system HD 181433. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Agnor CB, Lin DNC (2012). ON THE MIGRATION OF JUPITER AND SATURN: CONSTRAINTS FROM LINEAR MODELS OF SECULAR RESONANT COUPLING WITH THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Tinetti G, Beaulieu JP, Henning T et al. (2012). EChO. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Arridge CS, Agnor CB, Andre N et al. (2012). Uranus Pathfinder: exploring the origins and evolution of Ice Giant planets. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Tinetti G, Cho JYK, Griffith CA et al. (2011). The science of EChO. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Li SL, Agnor CB, Lin DNC (2010). EMBRYO IMPACTS AND GAS GIANT MERGERS. I. DICHOTOMY OF JUPITER AND SATURN'S CORE MASS. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Beurle K, Murray CD, Williams GA et al. (2010). DIRECT EVIDENCE FOR GRAVITATIONAL INSTABILITY AND MOONLET FORMATION IN SATURN's RINGS. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Philpott CM, Hamilton DP, Agnor CB (2010). Three-body capture of irregular satellites: Application to Jupiter. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Nimmo F, Agnor CB (2008). Dynamical and thermal implications of Martian core formation timescales. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Nimmo F, Hart SD, Korycansky DG et al. (2008). Implications of an impact origin for the martian hemispheric dichotomy.. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Li S-L, Agnor C, Lin DNC (2007). Giant impact, planetary merger, and diversity of planetary-core mass. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Asphaug E, Agnor CB, Scott ERD et al. (2006). Meteoritical and planetological consequences of "hit and run" non-accretionary giant impacts. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Agnor CB, Hamilton DP (2006). Neptune's capture of its moon Triton in a binary-planet gravitational encounter. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Nimmo F, Agnor CB (2006). Isotopic outcomes of N-body accretion simulations: Constraints on equilibration processes during large impacts from HfAV observations. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Asphaug E, Agnor CB, Williams Q (2006). Hit-and-run planetary collisions. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Agnor C, Asphaug E (2004). Accretion efficiency during planetary collisions. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • AGNOR CB, Levison HF (2003). The Role of Giant Planets in Terrestrial Planet Formation. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Asphaug E, Agnor C, Petit JM et al. (2003). TIDAL DISRUPTION OF PRIMORDIAL ASTEROIDS: A NEW PATHWAY FOR METEORITE PETROGENESIS. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Agnor CB, Ward WR (2002). Damping of terrestrial-planet eccentricities by density-wave interactions with a remnant gas disk. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Ward WR, Agnor CB, Tanaka H (2001). On the accretion of distant planets. nameOfConference

    DOI: doi

    QMRO: qmroHref

Supervision

This is not an exhaustive list and I would be happy to discuss other project possibilities.

Project Title
Giant Planet Migration in the Solar System
Collisional Evolution of Planets and Satellites
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