Steward Observatory, University of Arizona
@stewardobservatory.bsky.social
Official UA Astronomy and Steward Observatory account. Pioneers of JWST MIRI and NIRCam, Event Horizon Telescope, and GMT, and home to the Richard F Carris Mirror Lab, Mt Lemmon Sky Center, and one of the world’s best astronomy programs. astro.arizona.edu
Calling all Precision Optics Professionals —the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab is hiring!
· Senior Engineer, Optical Fabrication: tinyurl.com/mr3ucfdv
· Chief Engineer, RFCML Metrology: tinyurl.com/35kwkk3v
· Senior Engineer, Optical Fabrication: tinyurl.com/mr3ucfdv
· Chief Engineer, RFCML Metrology: tinyurl.com/35kwkk3v
October 7, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Calling all Precision Optics Professionals —the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab is hiring!
· Senior Engineer, Optical Fabrication: tinyurl.com/mr3ucfdv
· Chief Engineer, RFCML Metrology: tinyurl.com/35kwkk3v
· Senior Engineer, Optical Fabrication: tinyurl.com/mr3ucfdv
· Chief Engineer, RFCML Metrology: tinyurl.com/35kwkk3v
We are pleased to celebrate the great news that MIT has joined GMTO as the newest member of our international consortium. Read about this major milestone in the progression of GMTO to completion: bit.ly/3IOpyzv
October 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
We are pleased to celebrate the great news that MIT has joined GMTO as the newest member of our international consortium. Read about this major milestone in the progression of GMTO to completion: bit.ly/3IOpyzv
What if we told you black holes flip the switch on their magnetic fields? Recent images from the EHT show exactly that in M87*. This reshapes what we know about how black holes feed and power their colossal jets. Explore Steward’s role in the discovery: bit.ly/4prwzGV
September 17, 2025 at 2:37 AM
What if we told you black holes flip the switch on their magnetic fields? Recent images from the EHT show exactly that in M87*. This reshapes what we know about how black holes feed and power their colossal jets. Explore Steward’s role in the discovery: bit.ly/4prwzGV
Last month, U of A’s CatSat mission—built by students—snapped a breathtaking image of Hurricane Erin, the largest Atlantic hurricane since Sandy. What started as an ionospheric mission became a once-in-a-decade weather event captured from space: bit.ly/45W1weT
September 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Last month, U of A’s CatSat mission—built by students—snapped a breathtaking image of Hurricane Erin, the largest Atlantic hurricane since Sandy. What started as an ionospheric mission became a once-in-a-decade weather event captured from space: bit.ly/45W1weT
Looking for life beyond Earth? Steward Observatory's @danielapai.bsky.social is helping redefine what “life” means—a key step in exploring exoplanets & our own solar system. Read more:https://bit.ly/47VYUPh
September 2, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Looking for life beyond Earth? Steward Observatory's @danielapai.bsky.social is helping redefine what “life” means—a key step in exploring exoplanets & our own solar system. Read more:https://bit.ly/47VYUPh
Using Steward Observatory's MagAO-X, astronomers have captured—for the first time—a baby planet growing inside a disk of dust and gas. The sharp U of A-developed adaptive optics revealed how young worlds plow dark paths through their star’s protoplanetary disks as they form: bit.ly/3Vn0CSo
August 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Using Steward Observatory's MagAO-X, astronomers have captured—for the first time—a baby planet growing inside a disk of dust and gas. The sharp U of A-developed adaptive optics revealed how young worlds plow dark paths through their star’s protoplanetary disks as they form: bit.ly/3Vn0CSo
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected CatSat as a finalist for the Rookie Satellite of the Year award! Voting closes on Tuesday, August 12 at 11:59 pm - cast your vote now: bit.ly/4ltscb7
August 12, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected CatSat as a finalist for the Rookie Satellite of the Year award! Voting closes on Tuesday, August 12 at 11:59 pm - cast your vote now: bit.ly/4ltscb7
In a new paper this month from Carlos Vargas and the Aspera team, readers get updates and context for the Steward Observatory-based mission. Learn more about this bold mission that aims to study galaxy evolution through UV light: bit.ly/3INfG93
July 29, 2025 at 12:39 AM
In a new paper this month from Carlos Vargas and the Aspera team, readers get updates and context for the Steward Observatory-based mission. Learn more about this bold mission that aims to study galaxy evolution through UV light: bit.ly/3INfG93
For 40 years, Michelle Cournoyer has supported students and faculty, solved problems, and shown up with heart. As she prepares to retire this August, we celebrate the impact of a true Steward Observatory legend: bit.ly/3GWkAQv
July 28, 2025 at 11:52 PM
For 40 years, Michelle Cournoyer has supported students and faculty, solved problems, and shown up with heart. As she prepares to retire this August, we celebrate the impact of a true Steward Observatory legend: bit.ly/3GWkAQv
The @vrubinobs.bsky.social has captured its first images with the largest digital camera ever built—and many of its tiny, powerful sensors were made here at our Imaging Technology Lab! Now begins a decade-long survey of the night sky, powered by @uarizona.bsky.social tech. Read more: bit.ly/4kJ404m
July 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The @vrubinobs.bsky.social has captured its first images with the largest digital camera ever built—and many of its tiny, powerful sensors were made here at our Imaging Technology Lab! Now begins a decade-long survey of the night sky, powered by @uarizona.bsky.social tech. Read more: bit.ly/4kJ404m
The GMT has received official approval from the National Science Foundation (NSF), confirming that the observatory will advance into its Major Facilities Final Design Phase, one of the final steps before becoming eligible for federal construction funding: bit.ly/3SO8Di0
June 13, 2025 at 7:18 PM
The GMT has received official approval from the National Science Foundation (NSF), confirming that the observatory will advance into its Major Facilities Final Design Phase, one of the final steps before becoming eligible for federal construction funding: bit.ly/3SO8Di0
An international team of astronomers that includes Associate Astronomer Chi-kwan Chan of Steward Observatory has trained a neural network with millions of synthetic black hole data sets--highlighting the potential for AI to advance astronomy discoveries: bit.ly/3FOlZrx
June 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
An international team of astronomers that includes Associate Astronomer Chi-kwan Chan of Steward Observatory has trained a neural network with millions of synthetic black hole data sets--highlighting the potential for AI to advance astronomy discoveries: bit.ly/3FOlZrx
Congratulations to Roswell Roberts IV, Astronomy major and winner of the Outstanding Senior Award in the Dept. of Hydrology & Atmospheric Science! Read Roswell's reflections on his time at U of A: bit.ly/4kU4YeF
June 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Congratulations to Roswell Roberts IV, Astronomy major and winner of the Outstanding Senior Award in the Dept. of Hydrology & Atmospheric Science! Read Roswell's reflections on his time at U of A: bit.ly/4kU4YeF
When is an alien world habitable? Steward Observatory's @danielapai.bsky.social explores this question in his latest article in The Conversation: bit.ly/43vZKQw
June 3, 2025 at 10:52 PM
When is an alien world habitable? Steward Observatory's @danielapai.bsky.social explores this question in his latest article in The Conversation: bit.ly/43vZKQw
Congratulations to Nikhil Garuda, recipient of the College of Science Outstanding Senior Award. “The astronomical community thrives when knowledge flows freely between generations of researchers,” he says. Read his reflections on his time at Steward: bit.ly/43ffdTm
May 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Congratulations to Nikhil Garuda, recipient of the College of Science Outstanding Senior Award. “The astronomical community thrives when knowledge flows freely between generations of researchers,” he says. Read his reflections on his time at Steward: bit.ly/43ffdTm
NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the Aspera mission, led by Steward Observatory's assistant astronomer Carlos Vargas. Aspera will study galaxy formation through the observation of ultraviolet light. Read more: bit.ly/3FkEnrZ
May 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
NASA has selected Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, to launch the Aspera mission, led by Steward Observatory's assistant astronomer Carlos Vargas. Aspera will study galaxy formation through the observation of ultraviolet light. Read more: bit.ly/3FkEnrZ
With all the buzz about the latest potential sign of life on a distant planet, Steward Observatory's astronomy professor @danielapai.bsky.social puts the discovery in context. Read his take: bit.ly/3S1fYKB
April 23, 2025 at 12:26 AM
With all the buzz about the latest potential sign of life on a distant planet, Steward Observatory's astronomy professor @danielapai.bsky.social puts the discovery in context. Read his take: bit.ly/3S1fYKB
In August, Dr. Brittany Miles will join the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory faculty, advancing UofA’s legacy in infrared instrumentation and innovation. Dr. Miles studies the atmospheres of exoplanets and isolated, rogue worlds. Read more: bit.ly/3R0m0uF
March 31, 2025 at 10:57 PM
In August, Dr. Brittany Miles will join the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory faculty, advancing UofA’s legacy in infrared instrumentation and innovation. Dr. Miles studies the atmospheres of exoplanets and isolated, rogue worlds. Read more: bit.ly/3R0m0uF
NASA's SPHEREx mission, which launched earlier this month, will use software from the Arizona Cosmology Lab to answer questions about the first moments after the Big Bang. Read more: bit.ly/4iJ4GXj
March 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
NASA's SPHEREx mission, which launched earlier this month, will use software from the Arizona Cosmology Lab to answer questions about the first moments after the Big Bang. Read more: bit.ly/4iJ4GXj
Some exciting news: @erikahamden.bsky.social will serve as an inaugural member of the Arizona Space Commission, where she will advise Gov. Katie Hobbs in advancing Arizona's role in aerospace and space sciences. 🔭 🚀 🌌 Read more: bit.ly/4hSYtaL
February 21, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Some exciting news: @erikahamden.bsky.social will serve as an inaugural member of the Arizona Space Commission, where she will advise Gov. Katie Hobbs in advancing Arizona's role in aerospace and space sciences. 🔭 🚀 🌌 Read more: bit.ly/4hSYtaL
Peter Behroozi’s work in computational astrophysics has been cited over 15,000 times throughout his career, ranking him among the most cited researchers in the world. Read more about this impressive accolade: bit.ly/3EJ5qN0
February 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Peter Behroozi’s work in computational astrophysics has been cited over 15,000 times throughout his career, ranking him among the most cited researchers in the world. Read more about this impressive accolade: bit.ly/3EJ5qN0
Glen Schneider (1955–2025) was a self-confessed "umbraphile" -- a "shadow-lover" who pursued solar eclipses around the globe and earned a world record for the greatest number of total solar eclipses ever experienced. Read about his work and lasting legacy: bit.ly/4hVUaet
February 13, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Glen Schneider (1955–2025) was a self-confessed "umbraphile" -- a "shadow-lover" who pursued solar eclipses around the globe and earned a world record for the greatest number of total solar eclipses ever experienced. Read about his work and lasting legacy: bit.ly/4hVUaet
NASA's Pandora mission is one step closer to probing alien atmospheres, with mission operations based at University of Arizona. Congratulations to astronomy professor @danielapai.bsky.social, who leads the mission's Exoplanets Science Working Group! Read about it: bit.ly/3WHdu6P
February 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
NASA's Pandora mission is one step closer to probing alien atmospheres, with mission operations based at University of Arizona. Congratulations to astronomy professor @danielapai.bsky.social, who leads the mission's Exoplanets Science Working Group! Read about it: bit.ly/3WHdu6P
Steward Observatory's Gurtina Besla and Kaitlin Kratter were awarded the highest presidential honor for their research in galaxy evolution and star and planetary formation. Their awards highlight the department's preeminence in Theory, Data & Computation: bit.ly/4hp0Amm
February 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Steward Observatory's Gurtina Besla and Kaitlin Kratter were awarded the highest presidential honor for their research in galaxy evolution and star and planetary formation. Their awards highlight the department's preeminence in Theory, Data & Computation: bit.ly/4hp0Amm
Isabella Olin won an Undergraduate Honorable Mention for the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, for her AAS presentation on why galaxies stop forming stars. "Don't be afraid to pursue what you love," said Isabella. Read her story: bit.ly/40C9C8n
January 31, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Isabella Olin won an Undergraduate Honorable Mention for the Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award, for her AAS presentation on why galaxies stop forming stars. "Don't be afraid to pursue what you love," said Isabella. Read her story: bit.ly/40C9C8n