Astronomy

Our unique program blends course work with research opportunities and provides students access to professional-quality telescopes, instrumentation and computers. Our students go on to the best graduate programs in the country, or to a variety of rewarding careers both in and out of the field of science.

From Our Blog

Our department has been very busy between Astro Events, conferences, and construction at VVO — here are some updates. Commencement We celebrated the Class of 2024: some went off to grad school, some stayed here for their BA/MA, and some went on to other adventures. Here are some of our favorite photos of the day, ... Read more

Senior Thesis Champagne Pop 4 p.m. on April 17th marked the senior thesis deadline signaling the tradition of seniors popping champagne bottles on the steps of Olin Library. Here are some of our 2024 Seniors. The Sturm Lecture From Monday, April 22nd through Wednesday, April 24th we were honored to have Dr. Rebecca Oppenheimer join ... Read more

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Find out about public observing, colloquia, and other fun events happening at the astronomy department

Space Nights at Van Vleck Observatory

Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00PM at Van Vleck Observatory. Space Night is rain or shine, but the weather may impact if the telescopes are open.

The Spring 2025 schedule is as follows: Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26; Mar. 5, 26; Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.

Colloquium Events

Wednesday 2/19/25 - Aleksandra Kuznetsova "Cosmic Cohorts: Insights into the shared environments of protostars and their planets”, VVO 110 at 4:30PM

Tuesday 4/1/25 - Brittany Miles "Brown Dwarfs and Planetary Atmospheres in the Mid-Infared", VVO 110 at 4:30PM

Wednesday 4/23/25 - Sheperd Doeleman “Observing black holes on horizon scales: from still images to black hole cinema.”, VVO 110 at 4:30PM

Wednesday 4/30/25 - Alice Booth "The Chemistry of Planet Formation", VVO 110 at 4:30PM