• See the first photos from the Hubble telescope after a major computer malfunction

    Hubble fans, rejoice. After more than a month with its camera eye closed, the famed Hubble Space Telescope is snapping photos of the cosmos once more. Julianne Dalcanton, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

    07/22/2021 | Live Science
  • 20 UW researchers elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021

    Twenty scientists and engineers at the University of Washington are among the 38 new members elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences for 2021. New members were chosen for “their outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the state of Washington.”

    07/16/2021 | UW News
  • Dianne Harris named dean of UW College of Arts & Sciences

    University of Washington Provost Mark A. Richards today announced Dianne Harris will become dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, beginning Sept. 1.

    07/15/2021 | UW News
  • Astronomy professor Emily Levesque looks out at massive stars and back at history of her profession

    When Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, was 2 years old, Halley’s Comet made its most recent close pass to Earth. Her older brother was observing the phenomenon for a school project and the whole family headed out to the backyard. Fussy, cold and afraid of the dark, young Levesque’s mood changed when her parents directed her attention to the night sky. From there she was hooked.

    07/03/2021 | GeekWire
  • Astronomers Thrill at Giant Comet Flying into Our Solar System

    Legacy Survey of Space and Time member and Associate Professor of Astronomy Mario Jurić discusses a giant comet.

    06/30/2021 | Scientific American
  • Mysterious dimming of Betelgeuse was the result of star ejecting gas

    We may finally know why one of the brightest stars in the sky appeared to become 65% less bright than usual, in an event that astronomers have dubbed the Great Dimming. The star Betelgeuse, which marks the right shoulder of the constellation Orion, rapidly dimmed in late 2019 and early 2020. It now seems this was due to both a cool spot on the star itself and a cloud of dust. Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

    06/16/2021 | New Scientist
  • Betelgeuse: Its Mysterious ‘Great Dimming’ Explained At Last

    New images from a massive telescope in Chile have helped solve the mystery of why red supergiant star Betelgeuse suddenly dimmed in late 2019. Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is referenced.

    06/16/2021 | Forbes
  • Great Dimming of Betelgeuse explained

    “By mid-February 2020, the star [Betelgeuse] had plummeted to about 35% of its typical brightness before swiftly recovering over the next few months. The event captivated professional and amateur stargazers alike because such rapid and visible changes in the night sky are rare. Now, a year after Betelgeuse’s recovery from what has become known as its Great Dimming, Montargès et al. present a detailed picture of and compelling explanation for this strange behavior,” writes Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW.

    06/16/2021 | Nature
  • Mystery object blotted out a giant star for 200 days

    Emily Levesque, assistant professor of astronomy, is quoted in this article about a galactic phenomenon.

    06/16/2021 | National Geographic
  • UW astronomer redefines the scientific hero as part of The Great Courses

    Professor of astronomy Emily Levesque has started offering courses online through The Great Courses.

    06/15/2021 | UW News
  • Learning From the Cosmos

    Three of the UW Department of Astronomy's newest and brightest stars on the outer limits of what's possible.

    06/14/2021 | College of Arts & Sciences
  • On Earth or in space, George Wallerstein is remembered for his adventurous spirit

    The emeritus professor and founding chair of the Department of Astronomy passed away last week (May 13, 2021).

    05/17/2021 | College of Arts & Sciences
  • How the Starlink satellites spotted over western Washington can interfere with astronomer’s research

    It appears satellites from a SpaceX launch danced in the night sky over western Washington Tuesday, catching the attention of stargazers once again. People shared photos and videos on social media just after 9 p.m. Tuesday showing a long streak of lights moving through the sky. James Davenport, research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

    05/05/2021 | King 5 News
  • Star Wars Day: Watch Out Tatooine! Five Binary Stars Could Be Hiding Earth-Like Planets That Support Life

    Scientists researching nine binary star systems — like our solar system but with two suns — have revealed that five have “habitable zones” that could host Earth-like planets. Siegfried Eggl, a research scientist in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

    05/03/2021 | Forbes
  • The Last Stargazers

    Astronomers wax romantic talking about the joys of traveling to remote places to observe the heavens. With today's technology, those kinds of trips are less and less necessary. What is gained and what is lost? Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

    04/16/2021 | Constant Wonder