Illinois Prof. Looney was among the science team that released high resolution images of hundred of young stars (and the disks that surround them) in Orion; the largest survey of young stars and their disks to date. The images reveal the first stages of planet formation and extend our understanding of how stars and planets evolve.
Astronomers Capture First Image of a Black HoleU of I researchers contribute to paradigm-shifting observations of the gargantuan black hole at the heart of distant galaxy Messier 87
Astronomy at IllinoisWhy study Astronomy?
Featured StarNU AUR ( ν Aurigae)
New faculty to arrive in the FallWe are happy to announce that Decker French will be joining our faculty in the Fall. Decker’s research examines galaxy evolution, tidal disruption events (when stars get ripped apart by black holes creating flares), and gravitational lensing of distant galaxies to probe early galaxy properties.
Help us name the Astronomy classroomThe Astronomy Department would like to name our Classroom the James B. Kaler Classroom in honor of beloved Prof. Emeritus Jim Kaler. Here's how you can help.
Get InvolvedExplore research opportunities for graduate students
Prof. Xin Liu has been recognized as a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Congratulations, Xin!
T The Department of Astronomy and the Center for Astrophysical Surveys announces the "Supernovae across LSST" workshop to be held April 27-29, 2020 at the Illini Union. The workshop aims to coordinate activities across the different science collaborations to prepare for first light at the Vera Rubin Observatory, and supernova science with LSST.
More Department News
- Fifty years ago this month, human beings first walked on another world. Join Illinois Astronomers to celebrate this achievement.
- Congratulations to the Astronomy Class of 2019! Best wishes on your future endeavors--you make us proud! Twelve Astronomy and CS+Astronomy seniors graduated on May 12, 2019 at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.
- Congratulations to Prof. Xin Liu for being awarded the prestigious Arnold O. Beckman Research Award for her project "A Systematic Search of Binary Supermassive Black Holes in the Dark Energy Survey".
- The 2019 Astronomy Awards have been announced:
Calendar
Astronomy Picture of the Day
ASTR 100Learn the basic concepts of modern astronomy, from the Solar System to the Big Bang.
ASTR 210Survey of modern astronomy for students with background in physics.
ASTR 350Studies the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe, and the scientific tools used to study these issues.
