Welcome

I am an associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Planetary Astronomy in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, at The University of British Columbia.  I am also the co-director of The Outer Space Institute, a transdisciplinary organization that addresses challenges associated with NewSpace.

Research Plan
My research program has the overarching vision to study planet formation using a variety of tools, including simulations and observations. I strive to explore multiple epochs in planet formation, from processes in the early stages of disk evolution (setting initial conditions) to the long-term orbital configurations of planets and their debris (what is usually observed).  Questions that drive my program include:  How does the star formation process itself and the early evolution of circumstellar discs affect the formation of planets?  How were primitive solids thermally processed during the formation of the Solar System and what can they tell us about planet formation in general?  What are common formation channels for planet building?  Which processes are the most important for giving rise to the diversification of planetary system architectures?  What do debris systems (including Solar System debris) tell us about planet formation?  In what ways is the Solar System unique and in what ways is it typical?  These questions directly address major issues in both planetary and exoplanetary sciences.

With the rise of NewSpace, my research program also addresses space sustainability, including orbital debris and potential issues with space resource extraction. 

Research Tools

We use a combination of high-end computing and observations to address our science questions. In particular, we use simulation and modelling to explore the evolution of planet-forming disks, the dynamical interactions between planets, and the thermal processing of meteorite parent body materials through shocks during planet building. We also use the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillmetre Array, one of the most powerful observing facilities on the planet, to test models. 

Research Team and Mentorship

Our research team:
  • A. Hughes (PhD student), investigating radio emission from M stars. 
  • L. Fladeland (MSc student), investigating debris formation due to asteroid mining. 
  • Katie Rink (Undergraduate), orbital debris and a space sustainability index.
  • Carter Chene (Undergraduate), hydrodynamics simulations of large meteoroid airbursts.
Former members:
  • Jared Splinter (Undergraduate), exoplanetary dynamics
  • Edmond Ng (Undergraduate), asteroid deflection using mass drivers.
  • Christa Van Laerhoven (Postdoc), exoplanetary dynamics. Now working in education
  • A. P. Granados Contreras (PhD student), working on dynamical interactions among planets in exoplanetary systems.  Now a postdoc at ASIAA.
  • J. White (PhD student), analyzing ALMA data of planet-forming discs.  Now a postdoc at Konkoly Observatory
  • T. Kutra (Undergraduate intern), follow up observations of transiting exoplanet systems.  Now a MSc student at Toronto
  • B. Pearce (USRA student), simulating shock producing mechanisms in planet-forming discs. Now a PhD student at McMaster
  • C. Mann (SURE award student), simulating chondrule formation in bow shocks.  Now a PhD student at UdM
  • N. Leach (undergraduate), melting of asteroids with application to chondrule formation.  Now a PhD student at UBC

Please read about my commitment to mentorship here.

Contact Information

Department of Physics and Astronomy
6224 Agricultural Road
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

Email: aaron.boley@
Include the domain, which is ubc.ca.
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