University of Arizona

Students, faculty, staff, and the public are now welcome to visit Special Collections without an appointment from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.

Pioneers of Planetary Science

Gerard P. Kuiper with telescope, 1969

Manuscript collections that document important pioneers in the field of space exploration and planetary science.

Chiefly comprised of scientists at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) and Steward Observatory.

Highlighted Collections

Gerard P. Kuiper Papers

The Gerard P. Kuiper Papers are comprised of the personal and professional papers of astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper.

Ewen Whitaker Papers

Papers of astronomer Ewen Whitaker (1922-2016), expert on the geography of the moon (selenography).

Elizabeth Roemer papers

Papers of astronomer Elizabeth Roemer (1929-2016), specialist in astrometry of comets, asteroids, and minor planets, and Professor Emeritus of the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laborato

All items in History of Science, Pioneers of Planetary Science

Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.