The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has successfully secured the hosting rights for the 2028 Magnetospheres of Outer Planets (MOP) Conference. As the premier global symposium in space physics, MOP has been held biennially since the 1970s and will make its historic debut in Hong Kong for the first time in its half-century history. Jointly hosted by the HKU Hong Kong Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (HKIAA) and the Laboratory for Space Research (LSR), this landmark event marks a major milestone in establishing Hong Kong’s leadership in space and planetary sciences across the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
The announcement was officially made following the 2026 MOP Conference in Toulouse, France, held from July 26 to 31, 2026. During the week-long event, a delegation of HKU scholars delivered multiple prominent invited talks, showcasing the University’s cutting-edge research and international influence in outer planet physics. Leveraging this scientific momentum, the HKU team formally proposed Hong Kong as the next host destination, winning unanimous endorsement and enthusiastic support from both the International Scientific Committee and conference delegates.
The MOP Conference is the premier international symposium dedicated to the exploration of giant planet environments. Held biennially, MOP brings together leading space physicists, planetary scientists, and mission experts from around the globe—including key researchers from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and top research institutions worldwide.
The conference serves as the flagship venue for sharing groundbreaking discoveries, plasma physics modelling, and data analyses from major space missions, including Voyager, Galileo, Cassini, Juno, Europa Clipper and JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer). Winning the bid to host this prestigious event is a resounding testament to HKU’s outstanding academic achievements and its soaring international stature in space physics.
Beyond academic exchange, 2028 MOP will focus heavily on the global roadmap for deep-space exploration over the next decade. Hundreds of top scientists will convene in Hong Kong to explore international synergy and collaboration for major Jupiter exploration missions slated for the 2030s, including China’s Tianwen-4, NASA’s Europa Clipper, and ESA’s JUICE missions.
In addition to fostering global scientific partnerships and highlighting Hong Kong’s growing prominence in space exploration, the conference aims to inspire the next generation of local talent to pursue careers in space science, contributing to aerospace advancements both nationally and globally.
HKU will announce further details on the dates, venue arrangements, and programme committee in due course.
Further details about the conference can be found at lasp.colorado.edu/mop/resources/mop-conference.
Media Enquiries:
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