Reunion 2022 features host of A&S events
A number of special events are planned in the College of Arts & Sciences to celebrate Reunion 2022.
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Exploration that spans the universe
Department of Astronomy
The 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
The Planetary Society has an in-depth conversation with Associate Professor Britney Schmidt discussing how we'll recognize life when we find it elsewhere, her sub-ice exploring robotic submarine, why we need an even bigger space telescope and the best place for ice cream at Cornell.
Astronomy News
Twenty-five receive awards recognizing inclusive excellence
The awards recognize the excellence represented within the graduate community and celebrates students for their accomplishments.
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Grateful to be together: Meet the extraordinary class of 2022
Hear about the Cornell experiences of some of the amazing students in our graduating class.
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Team reveals first image of the black hole at our galaxy’s heart
Cornell researchers contributed to the first direct visual evidence of something compact and very massive at the center of the Milky Way.
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Student Spotlight: Yubo Su
Yubo Su is a doctoral candidate in astronomy and space sciences and recipient of a 2022 Wu Scholarship.
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Major progress made in construction of Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope
Project scientists are looking forward to collecting data that will give them insight into the universe’s earliest days; the telescope will also play a role in the search for gravitational waves and dark matter.
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'The ability to come at a problem from multiple angles is valuable'
Perri Thaler is an Astronomy and Economics major.
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Cornell-chaired panels advocate Uranus, Enceladus missions
Professors Jonathan I. Lunine and Alexander Hayes played leadership roles in identifying U.S. national scientific priorities through 2033.
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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.