Understanding the rates and timescales of geologic processes, the timing of major events in the history of life, and important milestones in plate tectonics all require absolute age determinations by a variety of methods.  For example, accurate pressure-temperature-time histories are crucial for piecing together past tectonic events and advances in the precision of U-Pb geochronology have allowed better constraints on the causes and rates of mass extinctions. Advances in thermochronology have allowed the teasing apart of intricate thermal histories for samples both terrestrial and extraterrestrial.  This session invites abstracts on recent advances in geochronology, petrochronology, and thermochronology by a variety of isotopic systems and analytical methods.  The session will highlight advances in both methods and applications to better refining our knowledge of Earth and solar system history, along with the timing and nature of important events.