Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science
Call us at: 928-523-2661 astro@nau.edu Directory
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The universe is awaiting your exploration

The Department Astronomy & 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.

– recent graduate who is now a PhD candidate

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

The Northern Arizona University Department Astronomy and Planetary Science empowers learning and success through close interactions between faculty and students that are fostered by an inclusive, collegial atmosphere.  Our science investigates fundamental questions about the Universe and our fragile place in it, and our world-class research programs provide students with the skills needed to become leaders in astronomy, and planetary science.  Above all, we provide high-quality research and education services to the peoples of Arizona, and nurture an environment that is supportive of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and world views.

By the numbers

102

Merged Physics/Astro Majors

56

Astronomy Majors

17

Astronomy Minors

26

Undergraduate Researchers

27

Phd Students

Research spotlight

MarsCuriosity-IresonHill Planetary Surface Processes
Astrophysical Ices Lab Lab Studies of Planetary Materials
OortCloud 2012VP113tile Observational Planetary Science
Hubble Space Telescope Exoplanets & Planetary Formation
Astrobiology
Spacecraft Missions

News

For a complete listing of all news articles, please visit our news page.

NAU planetary scientist captures new images of Martian moon Phobos to help determine its origins

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Images capture the Mars moon Phobos during different phases—waxing, waning and full—including the three images recently processed by Edwards (credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/NAU) Christopher Edwards, assistant professor in NAU’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, just processed new images of the Martian moon Phobos that give scientists insight into the physical properties of the moon and its composition. The images of the small moon, which is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) in diameter, were captured by NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter. When…

With prestigious NSF fellowship, NAU grad student tackling the question of life on Mars by way of Antarctica

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Editor’s note: Four NAU students were selected for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. NAU News will profile them over the coming weeks. Meltwater springs in Antarctica may contain the best Earth-bound answers for life on Mars. As to what that answer is—well, Schuyler Borges is looking for it. Borges, a doctoral student in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University, is leading a project comparing rock coating structures in Antarctica that look similar…

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Zeilnhofer

Posted by Ed on

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Zeilnhofer, who successfully defended his dissertation entitled, A Global Analysis of Impact Craters on Cerss, and became our department's first ever PhD graduate! Congratulation also to his mentor, Nadine Barlow.   Due to the coronavirus situation, Michael held his defense in a Zoom meeting. Thanks to the 50 or so people who attended his wonderful presentation!  

Events

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Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science
Location
Room 209 Building 19
Physical Sciences
527 S. Beaver St.
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6010
Mailing Address
NAU Box 6010
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011-6010
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