News | Steward Observatory

Former CEO of Google spearheads 4 next-gen telescopes — 3 on Earth and 1 in space

Four new telescopes could usher in a new era of astronomy. (Image credit: Schmidt Sciences/Chris Gunn Photo Credit: Schmidt Sciences/Chris Gunn)

The First-Ever Private Space Telescope Could Launch before Decade’s End

Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt pose during a gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on November 01, 2025. Via their Schmidt Sciences philanthropic organization, the couple is funding multiple astronomical projects, including the Lazuli space telescope. Kevin Winter/WireImage/Getty Images

Eric and Wendy Schmidt to fund space telescope, three ground-based observatories

Lazuli will be the largest privately funded space telescope ever built — larger than the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: Schmidt Sciences

The monster hiding in plain sight: JWST reveals cosmic shapeshifter in the early universe

Covering a tiny patch of sky spanning less than a tenth of the full moon, the famous "Hubble eXtreme Deep Field" image revealed thousands of galaxies, including objects from the universe infancy. The James Webb Space Telescope observed the same region over three years. U of A researchers zoomed in on the galaxy reported in this study (inset), captured when the universe was only 800 million years old. The team found that even at its young age, it already harbored a supermassive black hole, shrouded in dust.

KOLD Radio Feature: University of Arizona leads groundbreaking space mission

Aafaque Khan

NASA Pandora Mission--with operations based at U of A--featured in TIME Magazine

Pandora illustration

University of Arizona astronomer develops novel method to make AI more trustworthy

Peter Behroozi

At Steward Observatory's Mt. Lemmon Sky School, students get a head start in hydrology

Sky School students

Steward Observatory's Carlos Vargas connects athletics with space research at the Arizona Athletics Wildcat Club donor event in Houston

Carlos Vargas, assistant professor of astronomy, speaking at the Arizona Athletics Wildcat Club donor event in Houston, highlighting the University of Arizona's excellence in research and athletics.

Steward Observatory's Dennis Zaritsky Receives University's Highest Faculty Honor

Dennis Zaritsky