2015 News
April 17, 2025
Astronomy Magazine lists UCSC and MPIA Astronomers' discovery in their top 10 list of the year
December 17, 2015
Astronomy Magazine has ranked the publication of the “Jackpot Nebula” by MPIA and UCSC astronomers earlier this year as one of this year’s top 10 discoveries. Co-PI J. Xavier Prochaska’s observations revealed a massive gas reservoir surrounding an unprecedented collection of four quasars. These data were obtained with the Keck I telescope, operated by the University of California. The Jackpot Nebula is a terrific target for the soon-to-be commissioned Keck Cosmic Web Imager instrument, whose camera was designed and assembled at the University of California Observatories, headquartered at UCSC.
UC Santa Cruz hosts international summer program on exoplanetary atmospheres
December 01, 2015
The 2016 Kavli Summer Program in Astrophysics will focus on 'Exoplanetary Atmospheres.'
Highlights of new NASA exoplanets initiative, including Astrophysicist Jonathan Fortney
October 27, 2015
Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz to participate in new research initiative
October 22, 2015
Fellows chosen for a "Time Domain Astrophysics" Scialog initiative include six with UC Santa Cruz connections.
How a black hole swallows a star: new observations confirm theory
October 21, 2015
New details about what happens when a black hole tears apart a star have been gathered by x-ray telescopes.
Open Message to the UCSC Astronomy Community
October 12, 2015
This statement is being issued jointly by the leaders of UC Observatories and the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UCSC.
Internationally acclaimed artist to lead evening of stargazing at UC Santa Cruz
October 01, 2015
Acclaimed artist Russell Crotty and the grad student-led Astronomy Club will present an evening of stargazing on the hillside above UC Santa Cruz’s Great Meadow on October 14.
Study finds different ways for a black hole to swallow a star
September 10, 2015
When a star passes too close to a dormant supermassive black hole, it gets torn apart by tidal forces.
Astronomy alumni join Chancellor Blumenthal in panel discussion Sept. 26
September 08, 2015
Three distinguished alumni and a current grad student join Chancellor Blumenthal to discuss astronomy, space, and discovery
Astronomer Claire Max appointed director of UC Observatories
August 24, 2015
UC President Janet Napolitano has appointed UC Santa Cruz astronomer Claire Max as director of UC Observatories.
Astronomers use new instrument to discover young Jupiter-like planet
August 13, 2015
Five UC Santa Cruz astronomers were involved in the first planet discovery by the Gemini Planet Imager.
Astrophysicist Piero Madau awarded prestigious international research chair
August 04, 2015
Piero Madau, distinguished professor of astronomy and astrophysics, has been appointed to an International Blaise Pascal Research Chair.
Astronomer Douglas N.C. Lin receives prestigious Bruce Gold Medal
July 09, 2015
Lin will receive the 2015 Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.
Robert P. Kraft, eminent astronomer and former director of UC Observatories, dies at age 87
May 28, 2015
Kraft was a widely recognized researcher and a gifted administrator who helped guide astronomy into the modern era.
Against all odds: Astronomers baffled by discovery of rare quasar quartet
May 14, 2015
Astronomers discovered four quasars, each one a rare object in its own right, in close physical proximity to each other.
Astrophysicist Piero Madau inducted into Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars
May 08, 2015
Piero Madau, distinguished professor of astronomy and astrophysics, was honored for achieving marked distinction in the physical sciences.
Astronomers set a new distance record for galaxies
May 05, 2015
Astronomers have pushed back the cosmic frontier of galaxy exploration to a time when the universe was only 5 percent of its present age.
UC Santa Cruz part of NASA coalition leading search for life on distant worlds
April 21, 2015
Astrophysicist Jonathan Fortney is one of 15 principal investigators for a new NASA initiative searching for life on planets around other stars.
Wandering Jupiter accounts for our unusual solar system
March 23, 2015
Jupiter swept clear the inner solar system, resulting in the formation of a planetary system unlike any other astronomers have yet found
UC Santa Cruz professor aims to expand science internships for high school students
March 10, 2015
Astronomer Puragra GuhaThakurta will use a sabbatical at Google to expand and diversify the Science Internship Program.
Astrophysicist Ken Chen wins award for high impact scientific achievement
March 02, 2015
Postdoctoral researcher Ken Chen was honored in the early career category of the 2015 High Performance Computing Achievement Awards.
Google gives Lick Observatory $1 million
February 10, 2015
Google Inc. has given $1 million to support the University of California's Lick Observatory.
Astronomy: Laser Focus
January 21, 2015
By firing lasers into the sky, Claire Max has transformed the capabilities of current — and future — telescopes.
UC Santa Cruz astronomer Claire Max recognized for astronomical instrumentation
January 16, 2015
The American Astronomical Society awarded the Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation to UC Observatories director Claire Max.
Slate: Chasing Stars in the Classroom
January 9, 2015
Study of Andromeda's stellar disk indicates more violent history than Milky Way
January 08, 2015
Disordered stellar populations suggest bombardment of our neighboring galaxy Andromeda by smaller galaxies
