芝加哥大学是现代行星科学的摇篮。在1940年代和1950年代，杰拉德·柯伊伯（Gerard Kuiper）为观测行星科学奠定了坚实的物理和化学基础。在芝加哥，柯伊伯发现了Miranda和Nereid，在火星的土卫六大气和二氧化碳中发现了甲烷，并正确预测了海王星轨道之外的矮行星带的存在（现称为柯伊伯带）。同时，尤金·帕克（Eugene Parker）开发了太阳风的基本理论，哈罗德·乌里（Harold Urey）和克莱尔·帕特森（Claire Patterson）的工作是利用陨石探测宇宙星的诞生环境，从而发现
Today, planetary research occurring within our department is complemented by and integrated with research elsewhere in the University and in Chicago. For example a cohesive exoplanet group with members from our department and the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (including Professors Bean, Fabrycky, Konigl, and Rogers) meets weekly to discuss the latest developments in exoplanet research, and there is a weekly cosmochemistry seminar that includes active participation by Phillip Heck, whose primary appointment is at the Field Museum. We are continuing the legacy of research into planet formation and early evolution (Dauphas, Ciesla, Davis, Campbell, and Heck). We have also expanded into new areas recently, including exoplanets and planetary habitability (Abbot, Bean, Fabrycky, Kite, and Rogers). This expansion has already started to produce successful PhD graduates. Spectroscopic observations of rocky exoplanets require large telescopes, and the University of Chicago has reserved time on the Magellan telescopes and is a founding partner in the Giant Magellan Telescope, which at first light will have five times the light-gathering power of any other telescope. Potential graduate students interested in planetary science should consider the research of the faculty in our department and in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics to determine which department they would fit best in and should apply to.