Astronomy
Exploring the universe and advancing the frontiers of human knowledge.
Exploring the Cosmos
Astronomy at UT houses frontier research in cosmology, galaxy formation and evolution, stellar evolution and star formation, exoplanetary systems, the solar system and instrumentation. It is home to the McDonald Observatory and a major founding partner in the next-generation Giant Magellan Telescope.
Astronomy research is answering the questions of why we're here and how we're here. Finding planets thousands of light-years away may never directly impact us, but the machine learning techniques we build to find them will.”
Anne Dattilo
Astronomy and Physics
Experiences & Careers
Astronomy students at UT have access to world-class scientists, supercomputing resources and amazing telescopes, including at the McDonald Observatory in West Texas. Conducting research, studying abroad, traveling to the observatory and doing internships add to the student experience. Many graduates go on to careers in technology, data science, business, education, government, healthcare, research and engineering. Recent grads have jobs like:
- Scientific software developer
- Senior test engineer
- Engineering scientist
- Technical specialist
Explore Stories
Amazing classes and opportunities to do first-hand research about matters no one has ever definitively known before abound at UT Austin. Our students have discovered planets, helped with mapping distant galaxies and learned of the possibilities of life well beyond our solar system.
Study & Learn
Astronomy tells us about the place of humankind in the universe: what led to Earth’s creation, how stars form, how galaxies come to be and evolve. Astronomy’s goal is to determine the basic and controlling properties of the universe and to transmit that knowledge to society. Below are undergraduate degrees and graduate study is also available.
Astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy
Honors
Astronomy: Option 1
Astronomy
Astronomy: Option 2
Honors
Astronomy News
James Webb Space Telescope Images Challenge Theories of How Universe Evolved
Hefty young galaxies defy the reigning model of cosmology, called "dark energy + cold dark matter" or ΛCDM.
