David C. Jewitt

David C. Jewitt, born in nineteen fifty-eight, is a distinguished astronomer renowned for his extensive research on the Solar System, particularly its minor bodies. His academic journey has led him to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he holds multiple prestigious positions.

At UCLA, Jewitt is a member of the Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics and serves as the Director of the Institute for Planets and Exoplanets. His dual role as a Professor of Astronomy in both the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences underscores his multifaceted expertise in the field.

Jewitt's groundbreaking work is perhaps best exemplified by his historic discovery, alongside Jane Luu, of a celestial body beyond Pluto and Charon in the Kuiper belt. This achievement has significantly advanced our understanding of the outer reaches of our Solar System and has established him as a leading figure in planetary science.