Department of Astronomy

The University of Washington's Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics is about to go hunting. Their quarry: A theorized-but-never-seen elementary particle called an axion.

It might be easier than previously thought for a planet to overheat into the scorchingly uninhabitable "runaway greenhouse" stage, according to new research by astronomers at the University of Washington.

New climate model research by a UW astronomy student, has found planets orbiting cool stars actually may be warmer and less icy than their counterparts orbiting much hotter stars.

James Davenport, a Ph.D. student at the University of Washington, recently made a map of the world using only runways, helicopter pads and airports.

A UW astronomer is part of an international team that found six or seven planets orbiting a nearby star where only two or three were thought to exist.

UW astronomy and School of Art professors collaborate to create two unique sundials at the Exploratorium, a hands-on science museum in San Francisco.

KUOW's Weekday talks with Toby Smith of the astronomy department, who explains why the rotation of planets is significant and talks about what other astronomical phenomena to watch for this year.

Woody Sullivan is the UW astronomy professor known as "Mr. Sundial" for making Seattle the unlikely sundial capital of North America. Now he's recreated a Renaissance ceiling sundial in his home office.

It's not move-in ready, but an Earth-like planet was recently discovered by a UW astronomer using the Kepler Space Telescope. The planet, Kepler 62f, is outside the solar system.

University of Washington astronomy students will offer residents a closer look into the sky with a their mobile planetarium -- a fully functional planetarium that offers many of the same images as the high-tech version at the UW.

UW astronomer Sarah Ballard is using Earth's interstellar neighbors to learn the nature of certain stars too far away to be directly measured or observed, and the planets they may host.

A team of astronomers announced that they've identified two earth-like planets orbiting a star not too unlike our own. Eric Agol, associate professor of astronomy, is one of the paper's authors.

A University of Washington astronomer has discovered perhaps the most Earth-like planet yet found outside the solar system by the Kepler Space Telescope.

The astronomy department is readying a traveling planetarium to take to schools for outreach and collaboration in Seattle and beyond.

In partnership with Microsoft, the Department of Astronomy has updated its planetarium with digital technology. The result is an experience—and educational resource—that is truly out of this world.