Heidi Hammel

Senior Research Scientist, Space Science Institute

Heidi B. Hammel joined The Planetary Society's Board of Directors in 2005. A Senior Research Scientist with the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, Hammel herself lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

She received her undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982 and her Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of Hawaii in 1988. After a post-doctoral position at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, California), Hammel returned to MIT, where she spent nearly nine years as a Principal Research Scientist in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Hammel primarily studies outer planets and their satellites, with a focus on observational techniques. Hammel received the 2002 American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences (AAS/DPS) Sagan Medal for outstanding communication by an active planetary scientist to the general public .

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Becoming an Astronomer

Heidi Hammel rose to the challenge of a difficult college course.

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What NASA Really Does

NASA’s funding goes into exploration, science and aeronautics, explains Heidi Hammel.

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Improving Science Literacy

Heidi Hammel says we need to raise the bar in science education.

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How to become an astronomer

Heidi Hammel says astronomers should be well-rounded especially in math, but no one looks for straight A’s.

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Witnessing one of Hubble’s greatest hits

Heidi Hammel’s team of scientists put the Hubble Space Telescope “back on the map” when they captured the dramatic collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter. Hubble performed “beautifully, flawlessly, […]

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Heidi Hammel