Overview
Alexander Hayes is a Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility. Prof. Hayes and his group specialize in the geological and physical processes that shape planetary surface and atmospheres, including the identification and characterization of potentially habitable environments across the solar system. Alex’s flight project experience includes Cassini, MER, MSL, Mars2020, and Europa Clipper. He has also worked on instrument design and characterization for several Missile Defense Agency Programs. Dr. Hayes is the recipient of the Zeldovich Medal from COSPAR and the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ronald Greely Early Career Award from AGU, the Sigma Xi Young Scholar Procter Prize, and a NASA Early Career Fellowship. Dr. Hayes recently served as a member of the Science Definition Teams for the Europa Lander and Ice Giants mission concept studies. He earned a M.Eng in Applied Physics from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from the California Institute of Technology.
Research Focus
Hayes uses spacecraft-based remote sensing to study the properties of planetary surfaces, their interactions with the interior, and if present, atmosphere.Recently, he has focused on studying the coupling of surface, subsurface, and atmospheric processes on Titan, Mars, and Comet 67/P Churyumov Gerasimenko. Titan is the only planetary body,besides Earth, that supports standing bodies of liquid on its surface. Hayes uses the Cassini RADAR to study and model surface morphologies on icy satellites, including the distribution and evolution of Titan's hydrocarbon lakes and seas. Using data from the Mars Exploration Rovers and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, he is also interested studying the depositional and diagenetic history of early Mars. The geometry, scale, and distribution of sedimentary structures on Mars is strikingly similar to deposits found on Earth, allowing the methods and principles of terrestrial-based sedimentologyto be utilized on Martian Analogs.
Publications
Full list and C.V. available here.
- A. G. Hayes, J. Grotzinger, L. Edgar, W. Watters, S. Squyres, and J. Sohl-Dickstien. Reconstruction of Ancient Eolian Bed Forms and Paleo-Currents from Cross-Bedded Strata at Merdiani Planum, Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 116, E00F21, April 2011.
- A. G. Hayes, O. Aharonson, J. Lunine, H. Zebker, L. Wye, R. Lorenz, E. Turtle, P. Paillou,G. Mitri, S. Wall, E R. Stofan, C. Elachi, and The Cassini RADAR Team. Transient Surface Liquid in Titan's Polar Regions from Cassini. Icarus, vol. 211, January 2011
- A. G. Hayes, A. S. Wolf, O. Aharonson, H. Zebker, R. Lorenz, P. Paillou, S. Wall, and C. Elachi. Bathymetry and Absorptivity of Titan's Ontario Lacus. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Vol. 115, E09009, September 2010.
- O. Aharonson, A. G. Hayes, J.I. Lunine, R.D. Lorenz, M.D. Allison, and C. Elachi. An asymmetric distribution of lakes on Titan as a possible consequence of orbital forcing. Nature Geosciences, 2:851-854, November 2009.
- A. G. Hayes, O. Aharonson, P. Callahan, C. Elachi, Y. Gim, R. Kirk, K. Lewis, R. Lopes, R. Lorenz, J. Lunine, K. Mitchell, G. Mitri, E. Stofan, and S. Wall. Hydrocarbon lakes on Titan: Distribution and interaction with a porous regolith. Geophysical Research Letters, 35:9204, May 2008.
In the news
- Scientists supporting mission to assess Europa’s habitability
- Volcanoes may help reveal interior heat on Jupiter moon
- New analysis of Cassini data yields insights into Titan’s seas
- A&S honors 10 faculty with endowed professorships
- Juno’s new views heighten Europa Clipper excitement
- Scientists depict Dragonfly landing site on Saturn moon Titan
- Layering, not liquid: Astronomers explain Mars’ watery reflections
- Cornell scientists show how terrain evolves on an icy comet
- Cornell-chaired panels advocate Uranus, Enceladus missions
- Rock stars on Mars: Students look for life on big red planet
- Titan’s river maps may advise Dragonfly’s sedimental journey
- Schmidt: Exploring Earth’s oceans to reach Europa
- Students’ satellite mission explores earliest universe
- Dragonfly mission to Titan announces big science goals
- Cosmos unveils space-tech business, science opportunities
- Space Tech Industry Day a convergence of research, business
- Raring to rove: Perseverance lands on Mars
- Perseverance’s zoom cameras to take historic focus on Mars
- Astronomers estimate Titan’s largest sea is 1,000 feet deep
- 2020 in review: COVID-19 was the story
- Hayes, Lunine to chair Planetary Science 10-year survey panels
- Postdoc honored by L’Oreal, UN for innovative research
- Cornellians help NASA zoom in on red planet
- Mars Perseverance to deliver ‘first zoom cameras’ to another world
- Carl Sagan’s ‘Cosmos’ legacy lives on in new series
- Dancing debris, moveable landscape shape Comet 67P
- Cassini’s last Titan flyby reveals deep methane lakes, Earth-like cycles
- Provost Research Innovation Award winners announced
- A&S plans host of events for Reunion 2018
- Pollack receives Cassini model as inauguration gift
- Saturn's moon Titan sports Earth-like features
- Cornellians see Cassini mission end in a cosmic blaze of glory
- Cornell played large scientific role on Cassini mission
- Hayes, Kinzler recognized by World Economic Forum
- Titan: An Explorer's Utopia
