Department of Astronomy

A brand new astronomical observatory has discovered over 11,000 previously-unknown asteroids. Mario Juri, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

It turns out interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was almost called 3I/Rubin, after researchers found that the giant survey telescope coincidentally spotted this visitor from the stars over a week before it was officially discovered. Colin Orion Chandler, project scientist at UW's DIRAC Institute, is referenced.

Explore recent research from the University of Washington: how sunbirds sip nectar through straw-like tongues, why the Seattle Fault might not pose as great a risk as previously thought, how to gauge landslide dam risk in the PNW, what marine microbes use for making meals and when the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory will spot small inbound asteroids.

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. 

Strange data from a star about 11,000 light years away led researchers to hypothesize that two planets had collided in front of the star, blotting out the light but emitting a lot of heat. Such an event is one theory for how planets like Earth are created. Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral student, and James Davenport, research assistant professor, both of astronomy at the UW, are interviewed.

Thousands of asteroids including hundreds of distant worlds located out beyond the orbit of Neptune and dozens of previously unknown near-Earth objects have been detected by astronomers. Mario Juri, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Around 11,000 asteroids have been discovered in the solar system by scientists operating the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, home to the worlds biggest camera. The haul includes hundreds of distant worlds beyond Neptune and 33 previously unknown near-Earth asteroids. Mario Juri, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

In a short span of time, scientists have identified more than 11,000 new asteroids. Instead of a slow buildup, the discoveries have come in a surge prompting scientists to rethink just how busy and complex the space around us truly is. Mario Juri, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Using preliminary data from the Simonyi Survey Telescope at the NSFDOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, scientists have discovered over 11,000 new asteroids in our solar system. The findings include hundreds of distant worlds beyond Neptune as well as 33 previously unknown near-Earth objects.

A fireball lit up western Washington skies on Saturday night, traveling across Pierce County. The American Meteor Society said over 100 people submitted reports that they saw the meteor at 8:34 p.m. The sightings were reported across Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Chris Laws, teaching professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

An astronomical alert system developed at the UW could flag potentially significant changes in the southern night sky in real time. On its first night of testing at the Rubin Observatory in Chile, the system fired off 800,000 alerts. Eric Bellm, research associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time or From Your Own Home Video | Katz Distinguished Lectures Playlist (Simpson Center for the Humanities) From Mourning across...

Astronomers say they've likely witnessed the collision of two planets orbiting a distant star. The star in question is Gaia20ehk, which is located 11,000 lightyears from Earth. Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral student, and James Davenport, research assistant professor, both of astronomy at the UW, are quoted.

Astronomers say they've likely witnessed the collision of two planets orbiting a distant star, Gaia20ehk, located 11,000 lightyears from Earth. Doctoral student Anastasios Tzanidakis and research assistant professor James Davenport, both in the UW Department of Astronomy, are quoted.

Astronomers expect most stars like our sun to act in a calm, predictable way. Their brightness rises and falls a little over time, but the changes are small and steady. That is why one quiet-looking star in our galaxy caught scientists off guard. Its light suddenly started behaving in ways no one expected. Anastasios Tzanidakis, a doctoral student, and James Davenport, research assistant professor, both of astronomy at the UW, are quoted.