Astronomers unlock the atmospheric secrets of a 'new class of planet'
Some of the most common types of planets in the Milky Way may be very different than astronomers imagined, according to researchers probing the atmosphere of planet GJ 1214 b.
space
U of A astronomers capture unprecedented view of supermassive black hole in action
U of A astronomers have now produced the highest resolution direct images ever taken of a supermassive black hole in the infrared.
Large and small galaxies may grow in ways more similar than expected
New observations led by a U of A astronomer suggest that even dwarf galaxies can accrete mass from other small galaxies, challenging a long-held theory about dwarf-galaxy expansion.
NASA's Pandora mission one step closer to probing alien atmospheres, with mission operations based at U of A
The exoplanet mission, which will study of at least 20 known planets orbiting distant stars, has cleared an important milestone with the completion of its spacecraft bus.
'Ghost towns' of the universe: Ultra-faint, rare dwarf galaxies offer clues to the early cosmos
Three newly discovered dwarf galaxies in an isolated region of space show evidence of star formation being cut short by events in the early universe.
Beyond the 'Dragon Arc,' a treasure trove of unseen stars
Taking advantage of a cosmic "double lens," astronomers resolved more than 40 individual stars in a galaxy so far away its light dates back to when the universe was only half its present age.
Newly discovered 'kiss and capture' mechanism explains the formation of Pluto and its largest moon
Billions of years ago, two icy worlds collided. Rather than destroying each other in a cosmic catastrophe, they spun together like a celestial snowman, finally separating but remaining forever linked in orbit. This is how Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, originated, a U of A study finds.
New leadership, interstellar discoveries, dogs to the rescue: Top 10 U of A stories of 2024
From canine companionship to intergalactic intrigue, U of A research, scholarship and expertise generated news around the world in 2024.
U of A projects research expenditures surpassed $1B for FY 2024, joining a select group of US research institutions
The U of A delivered $955 million in total research activity last year, ranking among the top 20 public research institutions and remaining No. 1 in astronomy and astrophysics. University officials project research activity exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2024 and are submitting the data to the National Science Foundation for review. The official number will be confirmed in the fall.
New 'spectral fingerprint' atlas of satellites aims to improve space security
U of A researchers have created the first astronomical equivalent of a fingerprint database for satellites, a critical first step toward easily identifying human-made objects in the increasingly crowded geostationary orbit.