Brian P. Murphy - Research

Planetary Defense

Planetary defense focuses on detecting, tracking, and mitigating potential asteroid and comet threats to Earth. NASA’s DART mission, a key planetary defense effort, successfully demonstrated the ability to alter an asteroid’s trajectory by deliberately impacting the moonlet Dimorphos, providing valuable data on how such techniques could protect Earth from hazardous objects in the future.

I supported the DART mission through ground-based VLT/MUSE IFU observations. This work was supported by the University of Edinburgh and the DART Investigation Team.

Comet Comae

Comet comae are the expansive clouds of gas and dust surrounding a comet's nucleus, formed as sunlight heats and sublimates volatile materials. In the optical regime, molecules like C2, CN, and NH2 are commonly observed, providing insights into the composition, activity, and gas production processes of the comet as it interacts with solar radiation.

I investigate the change in morphology and source of these common molecules via VLT/MUSE IFU observations, probing any heliocentric dependence. This work is supported by the University of Edinburgh.

Titans Atmosphere

Titan's atmosphere is a thick, nitrogen-rich layer with complex organic chemistry, making it unique among moons in the Solar System. In the thermal infrared regime, molecules like methane, water, and haze particles are key features, offering insights into its climate, surface interactions, and potential for prebiotic chemistry.

I investigated the presence and latitudinal variation of water vapor in Titan's stratosphere, as seen by Cassini CIRS instrument and the Huygens Probe. This work was supported by the USRA and NASA Goddard.

Martian Ices

Korolev Crater on Mars is a large impact crater filled with water ice, which remains stable year-round due to its cold trap effect. Studying its seasonal changes provides insights into Martian climate dynamics, as variations in temperature and atmospheric pressure influence the distribution, sublimation, and deposition of ice within the crater.

I investigated the seasonal variance of ice deposition using the THEMIS instrument aboard the Mars Odyssey Orbiter. I derived a comprehensive set of thermal emissivities, which were used to determine the ideal windows in which pure water ice would be best harvestable by future colonists.

Recent Publications & Work

Gas-Dust Coma Dynamics of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko during its 2021 Perihelion via VLT/MUSE 

Murphy, B., Opitom, C., Snodgrass, C., Knight, M., and Yang, B., Europlanet Science Congress 2024, Berlin, Germany, 8–13 Sep 2024, EPSC2024-628, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc2024-628, 2024.

We observed Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko over 12 epochs before and after its perihelion in 2021 using the MUSE instrument at the Very Large Telescope. These detailed observations captured the evolution of the comet’s gas-dust coma, revealing important insights into its activity across various distances. Our analysis highlights the dynamic presence of molecules like C2, NH2, and CN, showcasing changes in gas emissions as the comet neared and passed perihelion. These findings contribute to understanding how solar heating influences cometary behavior and outgassing, and sheds light on the nature of extended sources in comet comae.

VLT/MUSE Characterization of Dimorphos Ejecta from the DART Impact

Brian P. Murphy et al 2023 Planet. Sci. J. 4 238. 10.3847/PSJ/ad0a87

We observed the Didymos-Dimorphos binary system before and after NASA’s DART impact using the MUSE instrument at the Very Large Telescope. Our observations, spanning 11 nights, captured detailed images and spectral maps of the ejecta cone, debris cloud, and dust tails at high resolution. We identified key features like spirals, clumps, and tails, and found that the ejecta showed varying grain sizes and velocities. Notably, we detected and measured the secondary tail earlier than other studies, providing new insights into the dynamics of the debris and ejecta post-impact.