News

Mysterious planet catches the attention of Steward Observatory researchers — NASA says it’s unlike anything ever observed

A research team led by Steward Observatory Assistant Research Professor Everett Schlawin has discovered a carbon dioxide rich exoplanet unlike any other known planets.

Chris Impey Wins 2025 Cosmos Prize for "Worlds Without End"

Chris Impey

How Many Stars Are in The Milky Way? More Than You Can Imagine

Astronomers believe there are about 100 billion stars in the Milky Way.

NASA Featured Story: ‘Baby’ Planet Photographed in a Ring around a Star for the First Time!

This artist's concept depicts the protoplanet WISPIT 2b accreting matter as it orbits around its star, WISPIT 2.

Giant Magellan Telescope brings new partner into the fold

The University of Arizona produces all primary mirror segments for Giant Magellan Telescope. Each measures 27 feet (8.4 meters) in diameter, and the arrangement resembles petals of a flower.

VIDEO: Laird Close discusses "baby planet" discovery on PBS Horizons

Steward Observatory Professor of Astronomy Laird Close spoke with Ted Simons on PBS Horizons about his latest astronomical discovery

New images reveal clues about the feeding habits of black holes

The Arizona Radio Observatory's 12-meter Telescope on Kitt Peak in Southern Arizona played a key role in obtaining the data for this study.

Following the Stars: Where Charity Woodrum Is Now

Charity Woodrum, Astronomy PhD ’24, is now a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow at Goddard Space Flight Center.

Hurricane Erin Photobombs CatSat

Hurricane Erin as seen from CatSat

A growing baby planet photographed for first time in a ring of darkness

The WISPIT 2 system as seen by the Magellan Telescope in Chile and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona. The protoplanet WISPIT 2b appears as a purple dot in a dust-free gap between a bright, white dust ring around the star and a fainter, outer ring, orbiting at about 56 times the average distance between the Earth and the sun. The other potential planet, CC1, appears as the red object inside the dust free cavity and is estimated to be about 15 Earth-sun distances from its host star.