Timothy Swindle

Cosmochemistry, Lunar Studies, Small Bodies, Theoretical Astrophysics

Dr. Swindle’s research has focused on studying noble gases in meteorites and lunar samples. In particular, he has used 40Ar-39Ar dating to study the impact history of the Moon and asteroids, and has studied the volatiles in the Martian atmosphere, particularly krypton and xenon. He has spent four field seasons in Antarctica as part of the Antarctic Search for Meteorites, and was chair of NASA’s Small Bodies Assessment Group. Dr. Swindle served as Head of the Department of Planetary Sciences and Director of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory for 10 years and was the first Director of the University of Arizona Space Institute, serving in that role for three years. He has been director of the Arizona Space Grant Consortium since 2012. Asteroid 8690 is named “Swindle” in his honor.