Excellence in Space Sciences

From Earth to the edge of the universe, UC Santa Cruz makes giant impacts in astronomy, astrophysics, and planetary science. We are pioneering new technologies for giant telescopes, adaptive optics, and gamma-ray astrophysics; discovering planets beyond our solar system and the most distant galaxies in the universe; and reshaping paradigms in cosmology, astrophysics, and particle physics. From NASA missions to the UC Observatories, we help people see what has never been seen before.

Latest news

• NASA scientist Chris McKay to discuss life on other planets in May 23 lecture

  Annual Halliday Lecture addresses the latest findings from the Mars Curiosity Rover and the prospects for finding life on other planets

• Astrophysics internships bring community college students to UCSC

  The astrophysics program is reaching out to community college students through a new summer internship program.

• Distant blazar is a high-energy astrophysics puzzle

  New observations of a blazar show that it is the most distant known source of very high-energy gamma rays.

• Stellar motions in outer halo shed new light on Milky Way evolution

  For the first time, astronomers have measured the sideways motions of stars in the outer halo of the Milky Way, yielding clues to our galaxy's remote past.

• UCSC astrophysicist Charlie Conroy wins Sloan Research Fellowship

  The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has awarded a Sloan Research Fellowship to Charlie Conroy, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics.

• Rare explosion may have created galaxy's youngest black hole

  New data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory suggest a highly distorted supernova remnant may contain the most recent black hole formed in the Milky Way galaxy.

• Astronomer Sandra Faber honored in White House ceremony

  President Barack Obama presented astronomer Sandra Faber with the National Medal of Science in a White House ceremony on Friday.

• KSBW spotlights UCSC's stellar astronomy program

  KSBW TV news featured a story about the achievements and recognition of UCSC's astronomy program.