Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science | NAU | Clear Skies And State Of The Art Labs

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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.ÌýAt 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.

Research spotlight

Decorative image: Organic molecules floating in space Astrobiology

AstroInformatics.png Astroinformatics

Hubble Space Telescope Exoplanets & Planetary Formation

Astrophysical Ices Lab Lab Studies of Planetary Materials

OortCloud 2012VP113tile Observational Planetary Science

Planetary & Solar System Dynamics

MarsCuriosity-IresonHill Planetary Surface Processes

Spacecraft Missions

Theoretical & Computational Astrophysics

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

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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

Congratulations to Dr. Anna Engle

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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).  
Read about some of our latest achievements, activities, and successes
Astronomy and Planetary Science
Call us at: 928-523-2661 astro@nau.edu Directory
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Colloquium

Nov. 18, 3:30 pm
Fantastic analogs and where to find them: Using natural laboratories on Earth to understand planetary surfaces
Physical Sciences (Bldg. 19), Rm. 103
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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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