Astronomy and Planetary Science

The universe is awaiting your exploration

The Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University offers various bachelor’s degrees, and a doctoral degree.

The department has a small, family feeling. At NAU, your instructors will know you by name; they are easily accessible, and they genuinely care about student success. Lecture courses are taught almost exclusively by full-time faculty. Both undergraduate and graduate students are routinely and deeply involved in faculty research.

The sense of community I felt while at NAU is something I very much miss.

– graduate who is now a PhD

Our Classroom is the Cosmos!
Join us: we’re looking for a few good students!

NAU aims to be the nation’s preeminent engine of opportunity, vehicle of economic mobility, and driver of social impact by delivering equitable postsecondary value in Arizona and beyond.

The Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science strives to build a diverse and inclusive community at Northern Arizona University; more information on our EDI policies can be found here.

Northern Arizona University sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region.
We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

Explore our degrees

Bachelor's Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Research spotlight

Decorative image: Organic molecules floating in space

Crater of Mars named of impact cratering scientist, Dr. Nadine Barlow

Posted by Author on Source on October 20, 2024

USGS Post of Oct. 20, 2024. On September 27, 2024, the name Barlow was officially adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for a prominent, ~87 km-diameter crater located in the northern portion of Sinai Planum (11.65°S, 270.09°E) on Mars. The name approval commemorates Dr. Nadine Barlow (1958–2020), Northern Arizona University professor and noted leader in the field of Mars crater studies. Read more about it here: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/astrogeology-science-center/news/crater-mars-named-after-impact-cratering-scientist-dr Image: USGS Astrogeology

Mary Lara is the 2025 recipient of the Carolyn Warner Legacy Award

Posted by Author on Source on October 19, 2024

Mary Lara is the 2025 recipient of the Carolyn Warner Legacy Award given by the Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) in partnership with the Warner family. CAROLYN WARNER LEGACY AWARD Honoring Champions of Education

Congratulations to Dr. Anna Engle

Posted by Ed on September 03, 2024

Congratulations to Dr. Anna Engle, who successfully defended their doctoral dissertation entitled, Experimental Studies Involving Mixtures of Methane, Ethane, Propane, and Nitrogen with Implications for Titan. under the supervision of Stephen Tegler (NAU) and Will Grundy (Lowell Observatory).

Nasa funding research on melting Swedish glaciers to understand climate change on Mars

Posted by Author on Source on August 27, 2024

While in Tarfala, Sweden, Alicia Rutledge spoke to Radio Sweden about our ongoing planetary analog research at the glaciers of arctic Sweden. Listen to the segement (In English)

Read about some of our latest achievements, activities, and successes