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Chad Hanna, an assistant professor of physics at Penn State makes rippling waves seem to appear in a photograph of himself

Listening to the Universe

8/6/18

On a morning last August, a text alert from the worldwide LIGO research collaboration heralded the discovery of a gravitational wave generated by the collision of two neutron stars. Penn State astronomer Chad Hanna describes how this event brought astronomy into the era of "talkies," with multiple channels including gamma, ultraviolet, and X rays each providing a different view of the story.

Jupiter (pictured) along with Venus, Saturn and Mars will all be visible this summer.

Behrend to host summer Telescopic Observing Nights

6/28/18

This summer, four planets — Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars — will be visible after sunset. To commemorate the occasion, the School of Science at Penn State Behrend invites guests to visit the college for three special Telescopic Observing Nights.

Aerial view of the High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory in Mexico

Sky-high observatory sheds light on origin of excess anti-matter

11/16/17

The High-Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Observatory in Mexico, built and operated by an international team that includes Penn State scientists, has captured the first wide-angle view of very-high-energy light emanating from two rapidly spinning stars. The fresh perspective on these stellar neighbors casts serious doubt on one possible origin for a mysterious excess of particles near Earth.

Comparison of Keplar-13Ab

Astronomers discover 'sunscreen snow' falling on hot exoplanet

10/26/17

Astronomers at Penn State have used the Hubble Space Telescope to find a blistering-hot giant planet outside our solar system where the atmosphere "snows" titanium dioxide — the active ingredient in sunscreen. This discovery, and other observations made by the Penn State team, provide insight into the complexity of weather and atmospheric composition on exoplanets, and may someday be useful for gauging the habitability of Earth-size planets.

This unique map shows the path of the moon’s umbral shadow—in which the sun will be completely obscured by the moon—during the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, as well as the fraction of the sun’s area covered by the moon outside the path of totality

Penn State gearing up for 2017 solar eclipse event

8/15/17

On Aug. 21, faculty and students from the Penn State Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics will be handing out hundreds of safe “eclipse glasses” for students and community members who want to see the partial solar eclipse that will be visible in central Pennsylvania.

Total Solar Eclipse pictured.

Experience the Great American Eclipse with Penn State Behrend

7/28/17

To commemorate the Great American Eclipse, Penn State Behrend invites guests to visit its School of Science on Monday, Aug. 21, for telescopic viewing of the phenomenon. Free parking will be available in the parking lot outside the School of Science Complex, which is also the site for the telescopic viewing.

Two orbs: a larger white one on the left depicting a sun and a smaller red/orange one on the right depicting a super-hot planet surrounded by a faint red cloud. Black background

New planet found to be hotter than most stars

6/6/17

A newly discovered Jupiter-like world is so hot that even its nights are like the flame of a welding torch. Planet KELT-9b is hotter than most stars. With a day-side temperature of more than 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit (4,600 Kelvin), it is only about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,200 Kelvin) cooler than our own sun.

Pamela Gay

“CosmoQuest: You can help discover our universe"

3/23/17

A free presentation titled “CosmoQuest: You can help discover our universe" will take place at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, in 100 Thomas Building on the Penn State University Park Campus. The lecture will be presented by Pamela Gay, the director of technology and citizen science for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Rebekah Dawson

Rebekah Dawson awarded Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy

1/24/17

Rebekah Dawson, assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State University, has been awarded the 2017 Annie Jump Cannon Award by the American Astronomical Society. The Cannon Award is given to a female scientist within five years of receiving a doctorate to recognize outstanding research and promise for the future.

Kira Hamman

Penn State Mont Alto announces 'Evening Talk and Star Party' series

9/20/16

Penn State Mont Alto will host a new “Evening Talk and Star Party” series during fall 2016. Each event will begin at 7:30 p.m. with an instructor sharing his or her expertise in the General Studies Auditorium with light refreshments. Weather permitting, a star party, led by Penn State Mont Alto Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy Kim Herrmann, will follow in the field behind the Multipurpose Activities Center.

Attorney Thomas K. Noonan, Mahanoy City, donated an 8” Dobsonian telescope to the physics and science departments at Penn State Hazleton.

Telescope donated to Penn State Hazleton

4/11/16

Attorney Thomas K. Noonan, of Mahanoy City, donated an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope to the physics and science departments at Penn State Hazleton. Noonan’s gift, which includes an assortment of eye pieces, lenses and instructional materials, is the most recent support for the study of astronomy and astrophysics. Astronomy classes, along with the student astronomy club, have been popular campus offerings, and plans for expansion of the program are currently underway.

Exoplanets

Exoplanets, Planet Nine to be discussed at Penn State Behrend

2/9/16

Now, more than ever, planets are generating an exciting buzz within the astronomy community, and that buzz will be the topic of discussion when Open House Night in Astronomy returns to Penn State Behrend Feb. 25. The presentation, “Mysterious Planets,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Roche Hall Atrium of Penn State Behrend’s School of Science Complex. It is free and open to the public.

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