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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Exploration that spans the universe
Department of Astronomy
Astronomy News
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.
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Over 50 Students Receive NSF Graduate Fellowships
The National Science Foundation offers approximately 2,000 fellowships per year to research-based master’s and doctoral students pursuing STEM studies.
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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.
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Crowd gathers to wish ‘happy birthday’ to Fuertes telescope
Partygoers enjoyed space-themed cupcakes, peered through the telescope and pored over a display of observatory instruments to celebrate Fuertes Observatory's 100th birthday.
Read MoreThe Department of Astronomy is one of the leading centers for astronomical research in the world. The department places strong emphasis on the participation of students in ongoing research projects and strives to foster an interdisciplinary approach to solving astronomical problems by maintaining strong ties with other departments. Many undergraduate and graduate alumni of Cornell astronomy have become leaders in the field. The department is also actively engaged in outreach 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.