Explore the Universe

At UMass Amherst’s Department of Astronomy our mission is to explore the universe and bring the thrill of discovery home to our students and neighbors. Under the vast New England night sky, we share a sense of awe and possibility. We invite you to be part of something greater than yourself – to help advance discovery and build community through the science of astronomy.

Umass Astronomers work on team that captured the first image of a black hole. 

Congratulations 2025 UMass Astronomy Graduates!

Congratulations 2025 UMass Astronomy Grads!

Congratulations on your well-deserved success! Your leadership and vision inspire us all. Here's to many more accomplishments in the future!

ALEX POPE

UMass AMHERST Astronomer Leads Science Team Helping To Develop Billion-dollar NASA Satellite Mission Concept

A University of Massachusetts astronomy professor is science lead on a $5 million proposal selected by NASA to develop new space satellite missions that bridge gaps in our understanding of the evolution of the universe.

Alexandra Pope of UMass Amherst is on one of two teams chosen by NASA to conduct 12-month mission concepts to observe X-ray and far-infrared wavelengths of light from space. Pope’s team is developing PRIMA, the Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics. After detailed evaluation of each $5 million study, NASA expects to select one concept in 2026 to proceed with the $1 billion construction, with launch projected to happen in 2032.

 

 

 

Kate Whitaker

Kate Whitaker and Team Investigate Oldest Galaxies

Whitaker’s team devised an innovative pairing of telescopes to better understand why some of the oldest, most massive galaxies go quiescent early in their formation. The team used the Hubble Space Telescope, which sees ultraviolet to near-infrared light, including the light we can see with our own eyes, to detect these distant galaxies, which are so far away that we’re only just now seeing the light they emitted 10 billion to 12 billion years ago, when the universe was in its infancy. In effect, Whitaker’s team is looking into the deep past.

 

 

Professor Alexandra Pope

2024 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentor Award

Congratulations to Professor Alexandra Pope, who has been awarded the 2024 UMass ADVANCE Faculty Peer Mentor Award. This award recognizes the invaluable contributions of faculty members in mentoring and supporting their colleagues' professional development.