Globular star clusters are favorite targets for amateur sky watchers. To the naked eye they appear as fuzzy-looking stars. Through a small telescope they resolve into glittering snowball-shaped islands of innumerable stars crowded together. About 150 globular star clusters orbit our Milky Way, like bees buzzing around a hive.
Astronomy at IllinoisWhy study Astronomy?
Featured StarCHI-2 ORI (χ-2 Orionis)
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
Yixian Cao earned her PhD on November 15, 2018. The title of her defense was "Spatially Resolved Study of Molecular Isotopologue 13CO In Nearby Galaxies". Congratulations, Yixian!
Prof. Joaquin Vieira's lab is the center of activity for the new camera at the South Pole Telescope. Read more.
More Department News
- Join the Astronomy Department at the Observatory on Friday, September 28, 2018 for an evening of conversations about the Universe and viewing the Moon and nearby planets with telescopes. This event is free and suitable for all ages.
- Xilu Wang successfully defended her PhD thesis, "Supernovae as gamma ray emitters from the MeV to the TeV." She is moving on to a N3AS Postdoctoral Fellowship at Notre Dame and Berkeley. Congratulations Dr. Wang!
- We begin the academic year with two faculty members newly promoted. Joaquin Vieira is now an Associate Professor of Astronomy and of Physics. Tony Wong is now a Full Professor of Astronomy. Congratulations to all!
- Graduate Student Daniel George has won third place in the Association for Computing Machinery Student Research Competition. Congratulations, Daniel!
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.
