News | Steward Observatory

U of A Imaging Technology Laboratory unveils a new vision in infrared innovation

The newest ITL team

AZ Daily Star: How U of A research is helping find the origins of the Milky Way, universe

NASA’s SPHEREx observatory is oriented in a horizontal position, revealing all three layers of photon shields as well as the telescope. This photo was taken at BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado, in April 2024. NASA/JPL-Caltech/BAE Systems

Fading Light, Fierce Winds: JWST’s Observations of a Low-Luminosity Quasar Unlocks Insight into the Evolution of Supermassive Black Holes at Cosmic Dawn

Jianwei Lyu and his team used JWST data to explore the properties of a low-luminosity quasar in a recent paper in Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Dr. Brittany Miles joins faculty at Steward Observatory, advancing UofA’s legacy in infrared instrumentation innovation

“Executing ambitious observational programs is key to pushing the boundaries of our understanding of planetary atmospheres,” said Dr. Brittany Miles, who will be joining the faculty of the UofA Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory this fall. “Arizona has provided me with resources, facilities, and long-term stability to support the development and execution of these goals.”

New York Times: ‘More Than a Hint’ That Dark Energy Isn’t What Astronomers Thought

Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, or DESI, scientists have assembled the largest three-dimensional map of the universe to date.

James Webb Space Telescope reveals unexpected complex chemistry in primordial galaxy

This infrared image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope was taken by the onboard Near-Infrared Camera for the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey, or JADES, program. The NIRCam data was used to determine which galaxies to study further with spectroscopic observations. One such galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0 (shown in the pullout), was determined to be at a redshift of 14.3, making it the current record-holder for most distant known galaxy. This corresponds to a time less than 300 million years after the big

NASA's SPHEREx mission will use software from the Arizona Cosmology Lab to answer questions about the first moments after the Big Bang

By creating the largest 3D map of galaxies that has ever existed, SPHEREx will help scientists answer big-picture questions about why the large-scale structure of the universe looks the way it does today, how galaxies form and evolve and the abundance of water and other key ingredients for life in the Milky Way galaxy.

How next-gen telescopes could discover extraterrestrial oxygen

Interior view of the Giant Magellan Telescope at night. The University of Arizona is a major partner in the telescope, and is creating all its mirrors.

Sharper image: U of A-built instrument reveals pictures of 'baby planets'

Donuts of dust: An artist’s impression of the PDS 70 system with protoplanets, each surrounded by dust rings illuminated by starlight. The planets themselves (not to scale) have thin rings of plasma heated to around 14,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which glow at the red emission line of H-alpha light.

Steward Observatory astronomer Erika Hamden named to Arizona Space Commission

Erika Hamden