Department of Astronomy

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.

Any Star Wars fan will recognize an iconic shot of two suns glowing in the skies of Tatooine — Luke Skywalker’s home planet. But new research shows this strange world isn’t as far from reality as you might think. Siegfried Eggl, a research scientist in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The debate over the habitability of Venus continues to burn as hot as the planet’s scorching temperatures. Michael Wong, a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

Dr. Meredith Rawls, astronomy research scientist, discusses the issue of space debris.

A composite-overwrapped pressure vessel from a Falcon 9 rocket was recovered from a private property owner in southwest Grant County. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is referenced.

A long streak of rocket debris from SpaceX was seen from Snohomish County to Salem, Oregon Thursday night. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

A long streak of lights slow-danced over the Pacific Northwest around 9 p.m. Thursday. The bright show dazzled onlookers from Snohomish County to Salem, Oregon, leaving many to wonder what caused the spectacle. While viewers speculated it could be a meteor shower, fireworks or something extra-terrestrial, scientists report the sight was actually human-made. James Davenport, a research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is interviewed.

Astronomers once gazed at the night sky and charted the stars using their naked eyes. Emily Levesque, associate professor of astronomy at the UW, describes how generations of telescopes have unlocked the wonders of the universe.

"Without the knowledge of [James] Webb’s silence at State and his participation in making psychological warfare a tool of the military industrial complex, perhaps our gratitude for his work was sufficient. With that knowledge, we think it is time to rename JWST [James Webb Space Telescope] because the name of such an important mission, which promises to live in the popular and scientific psyche for decades, is a reflection of our values," write Sarah Tuttle, assistant professor of astronomy at the UW; Chanda Prescod-Weinstein of the University of New Hamphsire; Lucianne Walkowicz of the Adler Planetarium; and Brian Nord of the University of Chicago.

Dr. Michael L. Wong, a research associate in the astrobiology program and astronomy department, explains what life on Mars could be.

Five months after findings pointing to life floating in the clouds of Venus, scientists are not quite sure what to make of the data and what it might mean. It might spur a renaissance in the study of Venus, which has largely been overlooked for decades. It could point to exotic volcanism and new geological puzzles. It could indeed be aliens. Or it could be nothing at all. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy, is quoted.

The detection of phosphine on Venus, theorized to be from microbes, may have been caused instead by sulfur dioxide, which is not a clear sign of life. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey and other sky surveys are adopting speedy robots. They will save valuable observation time and allow the surveys to keep up with Europe’s Gaia satellite, the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile and other efforts that produce huge catalogs of objects needing spectroscopic study. Eric Bellm, research assistant professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted.

New studies knock down a controversial report observing phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted. Andrew Lincowski, a doctoral student in astronomy and astrobiology, is mentioned.

Scientists stunned the world last year by claiming to have discovered traces of phosphine in the Venusian clouds. New research suggests this gas — which, excitingly, is produced by microbes — was not actually responsible for the signal they detected. Instead, it was likely sulfur dioxide, a not-so-thrilling chemical. Victoria Meadows, professor of astronomy at the UW, is quoted. Andrew Lincowski, a doctoral student in astronomy and astrobiology at the UW, is mentioned.