News | Steward Observatory

Spectra from a carbon dioxide world: Astronomers unlock the atmospheric secrets of a 'new class of planet'

Artist’s impression of GJ 1214 b passing in front of its host star. The “transit method” allows astronomers to study an exoplanet by seeing which wavelengths of light dim when the star’s light passes through the exoplanet atmosphere.

Tucson doctor wins national award for his second act as amateur astronomer

Richard Donnerstein

NASA's Pandora mission one step closer to probing alien atmospheres, with mission operations based at U of A

An artist's concept of the Pandora mission, seen here without the thermal blanketing that will protect the spacecraft, observing a star and its transiting exoplanet.

U of A astronomers capture unprecedented view of supermassive black hole in action

An optical image of the spiral galaxy NGC 1068 (credit ESO) overlaid with false-color emission from its radio jet

Large and small galaxies may grow in ways more similar than expected

Catherine Fielder

Emeritus Professor Rodger Thompson named AAS Fellow for his groundbreaking contributions to the field

Emeritus Professor of Astronomy Rodger Thompson

Steward Observatory’s Marcia Rieke wins prestigious award for her influential career in astronomical research

Steward Observatory’s Marcia Rieke wins prestigious award for her influential career in astronomical research

'Ghost towns' of the universe: Ultra-faint, rare dwarf galaxies offer clues to the early cosmos

Sculptor A, one of three newly discovered dwarf galaxies - and unrelated to the well-known Sculptor spiral galaxy - is visible here as a faint accumulation of stars beyond several bright stars in the foreground.

Beyond the 'Dragon Arc,' a treasure trove of unseen stars

Abell 370, a galaxy cluster located nearly 4 billion light-years away from Earth features several arcs of light, including the "Dragon Arc" (below center). Such arcs are caused by gravitational lensing: Light from distant galaxies far behind the massive galaxy cluster coming toward Earth is bent around Abell 370 by its massive gravity, resulting in contorted images.

Changing of the Guard at the Imaging Technology Laboratory

Dr. Michael Lesser after a successful transfer of ITL to its new home in the Applied Research Building (ARB) on the University of Arizona campus, perhaps contemplating his upcoming retirement.