News
Young Supernova Experiment releases first set of transient survey data
March 15, 2023
UC Santa Cruz astronomers organized the survey, which has discovered thousands of cosmic explosions and other transient events of interest to astronomers and astrophysicists.
First images released from James Webb Space Telescope’s largest general observer program
March 9, 2023
Mosaic images from the COSMOS-Web program offer a treasure trove of early galaxies, including dazzling examples of spiral galaxies, gravitational lensing, and evidence of galaxy mergers.
Astrophysicist Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz wins 2023 AAAS Mentor Award
March 3, 2023
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has awarded the 2023 AAAS Mentor Award to Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz.
Major expansion of Lick Observatory education programs will benefit Bay Area students
February 21, 2023
Scientific Teaching through Astronomy Research (STARs), a suite of new outreach and education programs at UC’s Lick Observatory, will reach a diverse population of K-12 and college-age students.
Astronomers observe light bending around an isolated white dwarf
February 2, 2023
The first detection of gravitational lensing for a single, isolated star other than our sun comes 100 years after a landmark experiment using the sun to confirm Einstein’s prediction.
Study finds active galactic nuclei are even more powerful than thought
January 16, 2023
A new study indicates that scientists have substantially underestimated the energy output of active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes because their light is dimmed by dust.
Astronomers find the most distant stars in our galaxy halfway to Andromeda
January 9, 2023
A search for variable stars called RR Lyrae has found some of the most distant stars in the Milky Way’s halo a million light years away.
Astronomers report most distant known galaxies, detected and confirmed by Webb telescope
December 9, 2022
Spectroscopic observations with the James Webb Space Telescope confirm four early galaxies dating back to less than 400 million years after the Big Bang, three of which are the most distant confirmed to date.
New JWST data reveal more details of exoplanet WASP-39b's atmosphere
November 22, 2022
A 'mystery molecule' seen in the initial spectrum has been identified as sulfur dioxide produced by photochemical reactions in the planet's atmosphere.
Batalha testifies at Congressional hearing on the initial scientific findings of the JWST
November 22, 2022
The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most powerful telescope humans have sent to space and, Batalha asserts, it is ushering in a new era of exoplanet science.
Webb telescope draws back the curtain on universe’s early galaxies
November 17, 2022
Initial findings from JWST Early Release Science programs include the discovery of two exceptionally bright galaxies in the early universe.
List of most highly cited researchers features 19 UCSC scientists and engineers
November 15, 2022
A new list of the world's most highly cited researchers includes 19 scientists and engineers at UC Santa Cruz.
Death of a star reveals midsize black hole lurking in a dwarf galaxy
November 10, 2022
By studying intermediate-mass black holes, scientists hope to improve their understanding of the growth of supermassive black holes in massive galaxies.
New astronomy network catalyzes scientific excellence
November 9, 2022
A new STEM mentoring network seeks to maximize scientific excellence and output within the astronomy and astrophysics community by cultivating inclusive environments where people with marginalized identities can thrive.
COSMOS program serves as a portal for aspiring astrophysicist’s journey to UC Santa Cruz
October 19, 2022
Her high school experience on campus motivated and inspired Julia Stewart (Crown ’24, astronomy) to matriculate to UCSC. Now she is paving the way for the next generation of math and science protégés seeking their own North Star
Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz honored as Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences
October 11, 2022
Ramirez-Ruiz and alumnus Scott Shaffer were selected by the California Academy of Sciences to join the ranks of Academy Fellows.
UCSC welcomes 41 outstanding new faculty members
October 4, 2022
With the start of the 2022-23 academic year, UC Santa Cruz welcomes 41 new senate faculty members. The research and creative scholarship and expertise brought to our campus by these new faculty colleagues will strengthen existing areas of work and open discovery opportunities.
Collaboration between engineering and astrophysics will develop cutting-edge spectrometers-on-a-chip
September 28, 2022
Two researchers have won an NSF grant that will allow them to pursue the emerging technology of spectrometers on a chip – tiny devices for separating and measuring light at ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths which can enable advances in astronomy when used as part of telescope instrumentation.
Astronomer Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz to give NSF Distinguished Lecture Oct. 6
September 19, 2022
The National Science Foundation has invited Ramirez-Ruiz to give a Distinguished Lecture sponsored by the NSF Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and Education and Human Resources.
With Pivot Fellowship, astronomer J. Xavier Prochaska turns to oceanography
September 7, 2022
A new program from the Simons Foundation supports successful researchers who have a deep interest, curiosity, and drive to make contributions to a new discipline.
Pioneering radio astronomer Frank Drake dies at 92
September 2, 2022
Frank Drake, professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics and an eminent radio astronomer known for his pioneering efforts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), died September 2 at his home in Aptos.
NASA releases Webb telescope's first exoplanet image
September 1, 2022
UCSC astronomers led the analysis of the first exoplanet images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Astronomer Ariadna Murguia-Berthier wins 2022 Trumpler Award for Ph.D. thesis
August 31, 2022
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is honoring Murguia-Berthier for the research she completed as a graduate student in astronomy at UC Santa Cruz.
Astronomers witness star-slinging tug-of-war between merging galaxies
August 30, 2022
Observations of a newly-dormant galaxy indicate that it stopped forming stars not because it used up all of its gas but because most of its star-forming fuel was thrown out of the system as it merged with another galaxy.
JWST makes first unequivocal detection of carbon dioxide in an exoplanet atmosphere
August 25, 2022
UCSC astronomer Natalie Batalha leads a team that detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-39b using the James Webb Space Telescope.
Missing carbon monoxide in planetary disks was hiding in the ice
August 22, 2022
In planetary disks, carbon monoxide is lurking in large chunks of ice, solving the decade-old question, ‘Where is the CO?’
Lenses and Mirrors-Shadow the Scientists receives Heising-Simons Foundation grant
August 15, 2022
Kickstarted by UC Santa Cruz Astronomy and Astrophysics Professor Raja GuhaThakurta, Lenses and Mirrors–Shadow the Scientists brings cutting-edge scientific research to anybody’s computer screen.
Astrophysicist Bruce Macintosh appointed director of UC Observatories
August 12, 2022
UC President Michael Drake has appointed Bruce Macintosh director of UC Observatories, an astronomical research unit headquartered at UC Santa Cruz and serving nine UC campuses.
Center for Reimagining Leadership
July 26, 2022
Center for Reimagining Leadership has been established, effective July 1, 2022. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, professor of astronomy and astrophysics, will be the faculty director of the center.
Measuring the universe with star-shattering explosions
July 22, 2022
An international team of scientists has analyzed archive data for powerful cosmic explosions from the deaths of stars and found a new way to measure distances in the distant universe.
Simulations reveal hydrodynamics of planetary engulfment by expanding star
June 13, 2022
A new study using hydrodynamical simulations reveals the forces acting on a planet when it is swallowed by an expanding star, as will eventually happen to the inner planets of our solar system when the sun becomes a red giant.
Amanda Quirk
May 31, 2022
Amanda Quirk's research on galaxy mergers showed evidence that the Andromeda galaxy had some kind of major galactic collision in the past 4 billion years, and survived—which has implications for our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
UCSC student wins second place at UC systemwide Grad Slam
May 12, 2022
Astronomy and astrophysics Ph.D. candidate Amanda Quirk came in second place in an elite group of ten competitors at the UC systemwide Grad Slam finale on May 6. She pulled off this feat after winning the UCSC Grad Slam in March.
Black Lives Matter: A statement from our department
June 24, 2020
