Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago

Atop a Chilean mountain, undergraduate students make cutting-edge astronomical observations: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/atop-chilean-mountain-undergraduate-students-make-cutting-edge-astronomical-observations

Congratulations to graduate students Abigail Lee and Hanjue Zhu for winning the 2024 Price Prize in Cosmology and Astrophysics!

https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/news/article/abigail-lee-and-hanjue-zhu-won-the-2024-ccapp-price-prize-in-cosmology-and-astrophysics/

Congratulations to University Professor Wendy Freedman, who has been awarded the Georges Lemaître International Prize!

https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/news/article/wendy-freedman-has-been-awarded-the-georges-lemaitre-international-prize/

Congratulations to Professor John Carlstrom, the 2024 recipient of the Arthur L. Kelly Faculty Prize for Exceptional Service in the Physical Sciences Division!

https://astrophysics.uchicago.edu/news/article/john-carlstrom-has-been-awarded-the-arthur-l-kelly-faculty-prize-for-exceptional-service-in-the-physical-sciences-division/

We are pleased to announce the 2024 Brinson Lecture speaker is Gerry Gilmore, FRS, Emeritus Professor of Experimental Philosophy at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge. Professor Gilmore is a world expert on the origin, evolution and destiny of our home in the Universe, the Milky Way. His lecture will tell the story of how the Milky Way has been understood from ancient times to the present day, and how earth- and space-based telescopes give us new insights into the assembly history of the Milky Way Galaxy over its 13 billion year history.

Tuesday, May 28, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Ave.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Registration recommended at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-dynamic-milky-way-seeing-our-galaxy-evolve-tickets-858838207197?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Congratulations, Astro students!

Audrey Scott (BS, 2024) has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

Jason Wu (BS, 2025) has been awarded a DAAD summer Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) with the Multiphase Gas Group at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany.

Astronomy & Astrophysics Professor and Department Chair, Josh Frieman, was featured on NBC in Chicago last night along with some first-year students discussing their upcoming trip to Carbondale, IL to view Monday's eclipse:

University of Chicago astronomy students prepare for trip of a lifetime for solar eclipse Monday’s total solar eclipse will be an out-of-this-world lesson for about 50 astronomy students from the University of Chicago. The class will head south to Carbondale to be in the path of totality.

Tomorrow's STEM Saturday is dedicated to the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse occurring on Monday, April 8th!

We will have Juliet Crowell, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago , joining us to teach us all about the eclipse and provide viewing tips. We will also be giving away a limited number of eclipse glasses away to attendees, first come first serve!*

We hope to see you!
STEM Saturday - FREE - 10am-1pm
homewoodsciencecenter.org

*Max of 2 pairs of glasses per family

Join us in May for our annual Brinson Lecture held in downtown Chicago! The event is free, but registration at the link below is recommended.

This year's speaker is Gerry Gilmore of the University of Cambridge whose lecture is entitled "The Dynamic Milky Way – Seeing our Galaxy Evolve:

The Dynamic Milky Way – Seeing our Galaxy Evolve A story of the future of the Milky Way, ending its existence as an isolated Galaxy, merging with Andromeda in 5 billion years.

The UChicago Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics is sponsoring an arts contest to celebrate the creativity of students on Chicago's South Side. The theme is "Reflecting on Illumination", and winners will receive cash prizes. Learn more at the link below, and submit by February 16.

U. of C. contest seeks astronomy art from South Side students Astrophysicists and astronomers at the University of Chicago are holding an art contest with the aim of connecting more South Side kids to the cosmos.

Congratulations to Angela Olinto, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Dean of the Physical Sciences Division!

Angela V. Olinto, dean of the Physical Sciences Division at the University of Chicago, has been named provost of Columbia University, effective March 1. Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Ka Yee C. Lee will serve as interim dean, effective Feb. 5.

Read more here: https://physicalsciences.uchicago.edu/news/article/psd-dean-named-provost-of-columbia-university/

University of Chicago Department of Chemistry Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago UChicago Geophysical Sciences University of Chicago Physics

Join the UChicago Space Network in conversation with science historian Kris Palmieri and astrophysicist Richard G. Kron about the ways the University is spotlighting women astronomers who contributed to groundbreaking stargazing at the famed Yerkes Observatory during the early twentieth century.

Event Detail

Scientists have discovered a rare sight in a nearby star system: Six planets orbiting their central star in a rhythmic beat. The planets move in an orbital waltz that repeats itself so precisely it can be readily set to music.

A rare case of an “in sync” gravitational lockstep, the system could offer deep insight into planet formation and evolution.

The analysis, led by Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago scientist Rafael Luque, was published Nov. 29 in Nature.

Scientists discover rare 6-planet system that moves in strange synchrony Study led by UChicago astronomer Rafael Luque may tell us about how planets form

This year Dark Matter Day will be held at Adler Planetarium as part of the “Adler at Night” series on Wednesday, November 1st from 5PM-9PM. Adler at Night is free to Illinois residents!

Find out more about International Dark Matter Day here:

Dark Matter Day There’s more to the universe than stars, planets, asteroids, comets, and space dust. In fact, there’s a lot more to the universe that we can’t yet explain. Scientists believe that dark matter, which we have so far only detected through its gravity-based effects in space, makes up about a quart...

Sky Observers Hangout: Blue Supermoon August 2023
August 30 at 9:00 pm CST

Sky Observers Hangout: Blue Supermoon August 2023 We’ve all heard the phrase “once in a blue moon,” but what about once in a blue supermoon? Join our astronomy educators to learn more about what makes this f...

Hertz Foundation Announces 2023 Hertz Fellows | Fannie and John Hertz Foundation | Empowering Limitless Progress The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the most promising innovators in science and technology, has announced the 2023 Hertz Fellows, 15 remarkable doctoral students in applied science, engineering and mathematics. By funding their graduate studies for...

Cosmic Queries – JWST’s Primordial Galaxies with Wendy Freedman - StarTalk Radio What is JWST telling us about the early universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson & Matt Kirshen explore spacetime expansion, and the universe’s age w/ Wendy Freedman

https://bit.ly/ArgonneOpenHouse

Argonne Open House | Argonne National Laboratory Argonne National Laboratory, located just 25 miles west of Chicago, is one of the world’s leading scientific research laboratories. And for one day only, it’s open to the public. At Argonne’s Open House you can spend the day thinking and acting like a scientist and discover how science can ans...

We will never forget our dear friend, Assoc. Prof. Erik Shirokoff, an astronomer who built instruments to understand the earliest ages of the universe, and who was known as a generous and patient mentor, teacher, and colleague.

Erik Shirokoff, astronomer who built instruments to map the universe, 1979-2023 Erik Shirokoff, astronomer who built instruments to map the universe, 1979-2023 By Louise Lerner Feb 3, 2023 Remembered as patient and generous teacher and mentor Assoc. Prof. Erik Shirokoff, a University of Chicago astronomer who built instruments to understand the earliest ages of the universe, di...

We are excited to announce that Dr. Jane Rigby of NASA will be the next Astronomy & Astrophysics Brinson Lecturer! This free public event takes place on Thursday, May 11 at the Spertus Institute in downtown Chicago. Click here for more information and to register for the talk:

Scientists release newly accurate map of all the matter in the universe Analysis combines Dark Energy Survey, South Pole Telescope data to understand evolution of universe

Meet Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago grad student, Mandy Chen. For her research, Mandy makes observations of diffuse circumgalactic medium. She also leads the Broader Horizons seminars on careers outside academia.
http://ow.ly/XK3O50MjxYc

Watch Prof. Donald Lamb, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago, share the contribution to the net energy gain for nuclear fusion breakthrough achieved by scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on CBS Chicago.
http://my.tvey.es/w9HAd

Meet grad student, Madison Brady of the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago. She researches rocky planets around M dwarfs, which provide us with key information on the formation, composition, and evolution of planets like Earth.
http://ow.ly/KtJf50LOZO2

Congratulations to Class of 2022 Jared Siegel (BS Astrophysics), whose Honors Thesis Research has been accepted for publication by ApJ.

Student uses NASA data to reveal new details on planets in other solar systems Study by Jared Siegel, UChicago ’22, sets upper limits on the masses of 50 exoplanets

A massive space rock impact may have kickstarted Earth's magnetic field The interplanetary collision that formed the moon might have more connections to Earth's ancient history than we ever imagined.

To observe neutrinos trapped in the Greenland Ice Sheet, Prof. Abigail Vieregg built the highest sensitivity detector at the highest energies. A new award from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation will support forward looking insrtumentation that can deployed on the ground and in space.
University of Chicago Physics, Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Chicago

http://ow.ly/9NPZ50LnkPG