Expanding universe. Expanding mind.

Think outside the world

If you are interested in solving large problems with big ideas, Astronomy has a degree program for you.

In our programs, you will expand your mind using tools that can be applied to multiple problems.

Graduate Admissions Faculty Research

Astronomy News

ALMA Observation of Young Star Reveals Details of Dust Grains

Prof. Leslie Looney is part of the team that created this beautiful image of the circumstellar disk of HL Tauri in dust polarization using ALMA at a resolution of ~5 au-- coming out soon in Nature. They find more dust polarization in the gaps than the rings, suggesting that a dust alignment...

Gammie Appointed to Prestigious Ikenberry Chair

Prof. Charles Gammie has been named an Ikenberry Endowed Chair, one of the most prestigious named appointments at the Urbana-Champaign campus. Prof. Gammie, who previously held the Donald Biggar Willett Chair in Physics, is a Professor in both Physics and Astronomy, and is known for his...

Grad Student awarded an LSST LINCC incubator

Third-year grad student, Grant Merz, has been awarded an LSST LINCC incubator as PI. LSST, which stands for Legacy Survey of Space and Time, awarded only four PIs worldwide. Congratulations, Grant!

Impact of Satellites on Astronomy

In a new study published in the journal Nature, Astronomy-affiliated faculty Siegfried Eggl and colleagues highlight the impact that satellites for mobile internet are having on ground-based astronomy. See this news release from Illinois Aerospace Engineering.

Astronomers Look at Planet Formation

Graduate student Frankie Encalada and Professor Leslie Looney are part of the international team that imaged the circumstellar disks around 19 very young protostars, revealing the beginning of planet formation, and disks that are different and less settled than the older disk systems....

Astronomy Events

View all events

Title

Real data, real experiences

The universe provides plenty of room for exploration. Astronomy classes make use of vast, modern datasets to give you hands-on experience with real data.

Undergraduate programs Graduate programs

Help celebrate our centennial by reaching for the stars.

Title

100 gifts for 100 years

In celebration of the department’s centennial, we’re asking for your help to replenish the department’s annual fund. Our goal is 100 gifts for 100 years.

Celebrate with us Give to astronomy

Introduction to Astronomy

Learn the basic concepts of modern astronomy, from the Solar System to the Big Bang.

ASTR 100

Introduction to Astrophysics

Survey of modern astronomy for students with background in physics.

ASTR 210

The Big Bang, Black Holes, and the End of the Universe

Studies the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe, and the scientific tools used to study these issues.

ASTR 350

Galaxies and the Universe

Explore elementary aspects of physical cosmology, including galaxies in our Local Group, starburst galaxies, and quasars.

ASTR 406

Computing in Astronomy

An introduction to the use of computers in astrophysics research.

ASTR 310

Astronomy picture of the day

Discover the cosmos with NASA.gov. Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

Learn about today's picture