New observations led by a U of A astronomer suggest that even dwarf galaxies can accrete mass from other small galaxies, challenging a long-held theory about dwarf-galaxy expansion.
The exoplanet mission, which will study of at least 20 known planets orbiting distant stars, has cleared an important milestone with the completion of its spacecraft bus.
Three newly discovered dwarf galaxies in an isolated region of space show evidence of star formation being cut short by events in the early universe.
Taking advantage of a cosmic "double lens," astronomers resolved more than 40 individual stars in a galaxy so far away its light dates back to when the universe was only half its present age.
Billions of years ago, two icy worlds collided. Rather than destroying each other in a cosmic catastrophe, they spun together like a celestial snowman, finally separating but remaining forever linked in orbit. This is how Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, originated, a U of A study finds.
From canine companionship to intergalactic intrigue, U of A research, scholarship and expertise generated news around the world in 2024.
The U of A delivered $955 million in total research activity last year, ranking among the top 20 public research institutions and remaining No. 1 in astronomy and astrophysics. University officials project research activity exceeded $1 billion in fiscal year 2024 and are submitting the data to the National Science Foundation for review. The official number will be confirmed in the fall.
U of A researchers have created the first astronomical equivalent of a fingerprint database for satellites, a critical first step toward easily identifying human-made objects in the increasingly crowded geostationary orbit.
Astronomers used the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to take an in-depth look at the debris disk surrounding Vega, a nearby star. Surprisingly, they found no obvious evidence of large planets plowing through the disk, as is common around other young stars.
U of A scientists will participate in many aspects of NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which will orbit Jupiter and make 49 flybys of its moon Europa to study the moon's icy shell and help researchers better understand what lies beneath.