Peter Gierasch, planetary astronomer, dies at 82
Gierasch contributed to a wealth of knowledge on the processes of planetary atmospheres and served as a team scientist on the Viking, Pioneer, Voyager, Galileo and Cassini missions for NASA.
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Exploration that spans the universe
Department of Astronomy
Astronomy News
Perseverance rover records sound of dust devils on Mars
Thanks to the first working microphone to traverse the surface of Mars, the sound of a tiny, extraterrestrial dust tornado has reached Earth.
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Eminent astronomer Riccardo Giovanelli dies at 76
An observational cosmologist studying the structure, evolution and environments of galaxies, Giovanelli had broad research interests.
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Cornell, global partners discuss the next ‘grand challenge’
Global Cornell will host a town hall in December for additional feedback and announce the new Global Grand Challenge theme in the coming year.
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Webb telescope shows exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before
“This is the first time we see concrete evidence of photochemistry – chemical reactions initialized by energetic stellar light – on exoplanets.”
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In Photos: See Giant Planet Jupiter Looking Its Best In New Images Just Back From NASA’s Juno Spacecraft
"Close-ups of Jupiter and its gorgeous cloud-tops star in the latest batch of images sent back from NASA’s Juno orbiter."
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Senior wins award from SETI Institute for planetary research
Ze-Wen Koh plans to pursue a doctorate in planetary science after graduation.
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The promise and perils of the new space boom
The rapid expansion of commercial space activity, as well as its integration into key government programs and services, represents a leap into uncharted waters.
Read MoreTogether the Department of Astronomy and Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science represent one of the world’s leading institutes for space science with over 110 active researchers. Research emphases include cosmology, solar system exploration, exoplanet science, and fundamental astrophysics. Graduate students, early career researchers and undergraduates, are actively engaged in current NASA missions, NSF consortia, and CCAT-Prime/FYST. The department and center also run an extensive and robust outreach program to the broader community.
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Department of Astronomy research
The Department of Astronomy is a leading center of astrophysics and planetary science research.
Visit CCAPS, the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science
Research spotlight
"A Dream of Discovering Alien Life Finds New Hope For Lisa Kaltenegger and her generation of exoplanet astronomers, decades of planning have set the stage for an epochal detection."
By Joshua Sokol, Quanta Magazine
Undergraduate program
The Astronomy Major at Cornell University is designed to be flexible so that it can be customized to the needs of each student.
Learn about the undergraduate program
Graduate program
Astronomy offers a wide variety of world-class research opportunities in astronomy, astrophysics and space science, with strong multidisciplinary connections, and a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Reaching beyond campus
In the spirit of the renowned Cornell Professor Carl Sagan, the Department of Astronomy reaches beyond campus in numerous ways. The Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility (SPIF) is a repository of spacecraft data, a facilitator of research, and a hub for PreK-12 education and public outreach activities. Ask an Astronomer has been answering questions from the curious since 1997. The Cornell Astronomical Society conducts viewing nights at the Fuertes Observatory and offers educational programing to the public.