Astronomy Illinois

09/02/2026

As NASA’s newest flagship space telescope prepares to begin its first cycle of science observations, several Illinois astronomers have projects selected to take advantage of Roman’s incredible view of the universe.

Our graduate students, Padmavathi Venkatraman, Zachary Stone, and Margaret Verrico, will use Roman to investigate everything from the environments around distant supermassive black holes to the processes that shut down star formation in galaxies. Professors Yue Shen and Decker French are also contributing to Roman science, with Shen serving as a co-investigator on a major deep-field survey and French collaborating with Verrico on her galaxy-evolution project.

With images as sharp as Hubble’s but a field of view more than 100 times larger, Roman promises to transform how we study the distant universe.

Read more about the Illinois researchers and the questions they’ll be tackling with Roman in our latest story!

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08/28/2026

Congratulations to recent PhD graduate Chris Tandoi, who recently defended his dissertation, Galactic Astronomy at Millimeter-Wavelengths with the South Pole Telescope!

Chris’s research used observations from the South Pole Telescope to explore our Milky Way at millimeter wavelengths, including stellar flares, symbiotic stars, and other transient sources. His work also helped improve the tools astronomers use to detect and study these objects in large-scale surveys.

Congratulations, Chris, on completing this important milestone in your scientific career!

08/26/2026

What does it take to understand how the universe came to be — and to help the next generation of scientists find their own path to answering those questions?

Illinois astronomy professor Kirk Barrow studies the formation of the universe’s earliest stars, galaxies, and black holes using massive computational simulations. With the James Webb Space Telescope revealing things scientists never expected to see, his work is helping bridge the gap between what our models predict and what we actually observe.

But Barrow’s work is about more than understanding the cosmos. From teaching himself quantum physics from a textbook he eventually wore out to mentoring students from astronomy and computer science, his curiosity and enthusiasm for learning shape the way he approaches both research and teaching.

Read more about Barrow’s research, his path to astrophysics, his collaborations in Japan and why he believes the next decade could transform our understanding of the universe.

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08/24/2026

We had a blast welcoming our newest astronomy students at LAS Liftoff last Friday! We’re so excited to have you join the Astronomy family and can’t wait to see where your Illinois journey takes you.

To those we didn’t get a chance to see at Liftoff, and to all of our returning students, happy first day of classes!

Welcome back, Illini! Here’s to a stellar year!

08/24/2026

Astronomy professor Decker French recently joined Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois' 940 Feet YouTube series. Join professor French and astrophysics and CS+astronomy student Diego Medina Carlin for a walk on the Quad discussing observations of galaxies and supermassive black holes, the revolutionary science of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and how astronomers connect theory with real data to answer some of the universe's biggest questions.

Along the way, Professor French also reflects on her passion for teaching and the joy of watching students grow into confident scientists.

You can watch their whole conversation at youtube.com/

08/21/2026

How can lunar soil preserve evidence of events that happened millions of years ago — including supernovae that exploded far beyond our Solar System?

A new study published in Physics develops a mathematical model to understand how meteorite impacts continually mix and redistribute lunar soil, helping researchers interpret the cosmic history preserved in samples from the Moon. The work includes contributions from from astronomy professor Brian Fields and Illinois PhD alum Xilu Wang.

The researchers’ model could help scientists better understand the origins and distribution of radioactive isotopes in lunar soil — and guide future sampling efforts through NASA’s Artemis missions.

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08/20/2026

Congratulations to recent PhD graduate Nick Conroy, who recently defended his dissertation, Black Hole Morphology and Dynamics: Parameter Inference with Event Horizon Telescope Data!

Nick’s research explored how observations from the Event Horizon Telescope can reveal the morphology and dynamics of black holes. His work used state-of-the-art simulations and observations of M87* to place constraints on black hole spin, while also exploring how future EHT “videos” could provide new insights into black hole dynamics and their powerful jets.

Congratulations, Nick, on this tremendous accomplishment!

08/19/2026

The University of Illinois Observatory is getting a historic refresh this summer!

Supported by a grant from the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program, renovations are restoring historical features of the 1896 observatory, including its rooftop observing deck and a transit telescope opening used by astronomers more than a century ago.

The observatory is one of just 89 National Historic Landmarks in Illinois and has played an important role in the history of astronomy, including pioneering work by Joel Stebbins and Frederick C. Brown in photoelectric photometry.

The renovations will help preserve that history while returning the observatory to its original mission of teaching and public outreach. Construction is expected to be completed this fall.

You can learn more about the project at the link in the comments.

07/01/2026

Congratulations to Illinois astronomers for earning observing time with the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the next flagship astrophysics observatory from NASA.

Amid intense international competition for the telescope's first cycle of observations, proposals led by Padmavathi Venkatraman, Yue Shen, Zachary Stone, Margaret Verrico and K. Decker French were selected for Cycle 1 observations.

Their projects will use Roman's powerful infrared capabilities to explore active supermassive black holes and galaxies across cosmic time. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement and on helping shape the scientific legacy of Roman from the very beginning!

Rendering of telescope from NASA.

06/30/2026

After years of preparation, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) has officially begun observing the universe — marking the start of a new era in astronomy.

Faculty, researchers, and students from Illinois Astronomy have helped build the tools and science that will turn Rubin's unprecedented stream of data into discoveries about exploding stars, dark matter, dark energy, and the changing night sky.

CAPS, NCSA Celebrate Beginning of LSST Project Posted on June 30, 2026June 30, 2026 by Andrew Helregel For astronomers, researchers and space lovers across the globe, the long wait is finally over. Following approval from the U.S. National Science Foundation review board, the Legacy Survey of Space....