News: Astronomy

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Announcements

McDonald Observatory Invites Ecological Research as a Texas Field Station

The observatory joins a network of six University of Texas sites dedicated to scientific research, environmental monitoring and conservation efforts.

Two telescope domes sit atop a mountain with more peaks in the distance

Research

Astronomers Confirm Maisie’s Galaxy is Among Earliest Ever Observed

Detected with the James Webb Space Telescope, Maisie’s galaxy was observed 390 million years after the Big Bang.

An orange-red blob in the center of a black background

Research

Chemical Cartography Reveals the Milky Way’s Spiral Arms

The method overcomes the challenges of dust that block the view of some of the Milky Way's stars.

A spiral galaxy floats in the black background of space with red and blue dots sprinkled over one section

Announcements

UT Austin Ranks among Top U.S. Universities in Nature Index

Among U.S. universities, UT ranks 17th in natural sciences, 8th in physical sciences and 7th in chemistry.

UT is spelled in flowers south of the main mall with the UT Tower in the distance

Research

Webb Telescope Detects Most Distant Active Supermassive Black Hole

At about 9 solar masses, this black hole is a real lightweight compared to previously seen ones in the early universe that are typically 1...

A dense field of galaxies set against a black background of space

Science News

Muñoz Named Among Science News’ SN 10 List of Scientists to Watch

The scientist developed a ruler with the power to size up the early university and shed light on the cosmic dawn.

A bearded man in a patterned collared shirt stands in a building in front of a window

Research

New Era of Exoplanet Discovery Begins with Images of ‘Jupiter’s Younger Sibling’

Astrometry uses the shift in a star’s position on the sky relative to other stars to infer the existence of orbiting planets.

In this side-by-side comparison of two telescope images, a white dot on a blue background changes position as it orbits around a central star symbol

McDonald Observatory

Giant Tails of Helium Observed Escaping Jupiter-Like Planet

Astronomers used the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) at the McDonald Observatory to discover some of the longest tails of gas yet observed escaping a planet.

An orange swirl of light around a bright yellow star against a purple background

Research

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.

Six candidate galaxies

Research

James Webb’s First Stunning Image of Cassiopeia A, Fragments of a Hellish Explosion

A new image of a supernova remnant reveals wonders, beauty, secrets of star structure and building blocks of life.

Wisps of colorful gas and dust in a telescope image showing the remains of a supernova explosion