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Morota Lab
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The lab deciphers the history of the Moon and asteroids from spacecraft data.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling the mysteries of Solar System formation and the origin of life through lunar and planetary exploration
The Morota Lab studies how the surfaces and interiors of the Moon, planets, and asteroids have changed over time.
Using data observed from a distance by spacecraft and other platforms (remote sensing data), the lab investigates these bodies with methods from planetary physics and planetary geology.
The goal is to reconstruct the history of how the planets of the Solar System formed and evolved.
The lab also takes part in exploration missions such as the lunar orbiter Kaguya and the asteroid explorer Hayabusa2, and puts great effort into observation operations and building data processing systems.
Key terms
- Remote sensing
- A method of observing the surface of a distant celestial body from a spacecraft or satellite, using images and light intensity
- Planetary geology
- A field that uses landforms and rocks to determine the events that occurred on the surfaces of planets and moons, and the order in which they happened
- Impact basin
- A huge depression, which can reach several hundred km in diameter, formed by the impact of a large body
ResearchResearch themes
To clarify how the planets of the Solar System formed and evolved, the lab studies the evolution of the surfaces and interiors of the Moon, planets, and asteroids. Believing that obtaining new exploration data from Japan's own missions and sustaining exploration programs are essential, the lab also participates in planetary exploration projects.
*Illustrative imageHistory of Impacts on Earth and the Moon
Using the crater record on the lunar surface, the lab investigates how the frequency of impacts on Earth and the Moon has changed over time and where the impacting bodies came from. It estimates the ages of ancient giant impact basins using Kaguya data and, through collaboration with lunar meteorite researchers, aims to test models that explain how orbits changed in the early Solar System.
*Illustrative imageParticipation in Lunar and Planetary Exploration Missions
Associate Professor Morota has taken part in the lunar orbiter Kaguya mission since 2004, and has been responsible for testing the instruments that image the lunar surface, data processing, and building the observation operations system. On Hayabusa2, Associate Professor Morota led operation planning for the optical navigation camera and the selection of the landing site, and is also involved in lunar polar exploration and the Martian moons sample return mission.
MembersFaculty
The Morota Lab consists of faculty members, doctoral and master's students, and researchers.As of 2026
- Project ProfessorTomokatsu Morota
VoicesStudent voices
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Tachibana LabFaculty of Science, Department of Earth and Planetary PhysicsOrigin of the Solar System and early chemical evolutionThe information on this page is compiled by the LabLog team from the lab's public information and interviews. For corrections or removal requests, please contact LabLog, not the lab.
Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “FullMoon2010” Gregory H. Revera / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- History of Impacts on Earth and the Moon: “Mare Orientale (LRO)” NASA (image by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) / Public domain (cropped)
- Participation in Lunar and Planetary Exploration Missions: “Images of asteroid Ryugu from the wide angle Optical Navigation Cameras (ONC-W1 and ONC-W2) via Hayabusa2” JAXA ほか
（は やぶさ2 ONCチーム） / CC BY 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (Namiki Lab (RISE Lunar and Planetary Exploration Study Office)): “PIA16587 - GRAIL's Gravity Field of the Moon” NASA/ARC/MIT / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Fujii Lab): “Artist's impression of the planet orbiting Proxima Centauri (eso1629e)” ESO/M. Kornmesser / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Amano Lab): “Supernova Remnant SN 1006” X-ray: NASA/CXC/Rutgers/G.Cassam-Chenaï, J.Hughes et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/GBT/VLA/Dyer, Maddalena & Cornwell; Optical: Middlebury College/F.Winkler, NOAO/AURA/NSF/CTIO Schmidt & DSS / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Tachibana Lab): “HL Tau protoplanetary disk” ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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