Comparative Planetary Evolution skip to main content Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution About Open About submenu Leadership Support Us Research Open Research submenu Supported research Programs Open Programs submenu Annual Call for Proposals Postdoc and Senior Grad Student Retreat 3CPE Fellows Events Learn More Open Learn More submenu News Introducing Furkan Ozturk People Open People submenu Affiliated Faculty Postdoctoral Fellows Graduate Fellows Giving SearchSearch Menu Close About Open About submenu Research Open Research submenu Programs Open Programs submenu Events Learn More Open Learn More submenu People Open People submenu Giving About Back Leadership Support Us Research Back Supported research Programs Back Annual Call for Proposals Postdoc and Senior Grad Student Retreat 3CPE Fellows Learn More Back News Introducing Furkan Ozturk People Back Affiliated Faculty Postdoctoral Fellows Graduate Fellows SearchSearch Notes From Afar Notes From Afar The Caltech Magazine has written a beautifully illustrated article on the 3CPE, where you can read about some of our research activities, from understanding the rise of oxygen on Earth, to studying the interiors of the moons of Jupiter, to searching for and understanding habitable worlds beyond our solar system, and more. Barr Leadership Chair Boosts 3CPE Barr Leadership Chair Boosts 3CPE An Insider's Visit to Palomar Observatory Credit: Surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute) An Insider's Visit to Palomar Observatory More with Less; Reinventing Planetary Exploration An Insider's look at Palomar Observatory An Insider's look at Palomar Observatory Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 Autoplay Carousel Previous Next The Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) is a virtual Center that invites all members of the Caltech community to participate. The goal of the 3CPE is to merge the fields of astronomy, geology, and biology to explore the origin and evolution of planetary systems and their biospheres. Addressing these questions requires research and insight which crosses traditional discipline boundaries. The 3CPE will be a catalyst for driving collaborations and forming a community spanning these disciplines. We will seed innovative partnerships bridging fields, provide opportunities for young scientists to expand their training into new areas, and help to develop a common culture linking these often well-separated disciplines. Our biggest goal is to grow a community of people interested in an interdisciplinary approach to the study of comparative planetary evolution that will allow Caltech researchers to scientifically excel in new ways. Explore more about the 3CPE, see the programs that the Center supports, examine research being undertaken by members of the Center, check out the next events happening within the center, or learn about recent happenings in related disciplines. Learn how to support our center. Image Lightbox Download Full Image Learn More Is There Life Beyond Earth? / Seminar Day, Session IV Click here for more videos Dark Matter Flies Ahead of Normal Matter in Mega Galaxy Cluster Collision Enceladus Spills Its Guts through Strike–Slip Motion Jupiter's Moon Io has been Volcanically Active for Billions of Years Click here for more articles To receive future emails about 3CPE events and opportunities, please sign up here. California Institute of Technology 1200 East California Boulevard Pasadena, California 91125 Digital Accessibility | Privacy Notice | Site Content Copyright © 2026 | Log In