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Caltech
Department of Astronomy

Astronomy Homepage

The Astronomy Department at the California Institute of Technology is part of the Division of Physics, Math, and Astronomy. The primary mission of our department is twofold: the performance of cutting-edge research in astronomy and astrophysics, including theory, observation, and experiment, as well as the education of undergraduate and graduate students and training of postdoctoral research associates who will comprise the scientists and leaders of tomorrow. We are located in the Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics on the Caltech campus.

OVRO 40-meter radio telescope
Research Highlights
ZTF: Zwicky Transient Facility at Palomar COMAP: the CO Mapping Array Pathfinder at OVRO SPHEREx Mission
Keck Observatory telescope domes
Observatories
OVRO Palomar Observatory W. M. Keck Observatory LIGO

Upcoming Events

All Events
January 7, 2026 4:00 pm

Astronomy Colloquium

Cahill, Hameetman Auditorium
New Frontiers in Exoplanet Imaging and Pathways to Habitable Worlds
Jason Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Northwestern,
January 14, 2026 4:00 pm

Astronomy Colloquium

Cahill, Hameetman Auditorium
TBD
Amelie Saintonge, Director, Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy,
January 21, 2026 4:00 pm

Astronomy Colloquium

Cahill, Hameetman Auditorium
Core-Collapse Supernovae in 3D: New Theoretical Insights
Adam Burrows, Professor, Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University,
January 22, 2026 2:00 pm

Special TAPIR Seminar

Online and In-Person Event
Title to be announced
Tatsuya Daniel, Postdoctoral Fellow, Trottier Space Institute, McGill University,
January 23, 2026 2:00 pm

TAPIR Seminar

Online and In-Person Event
Title to be announced
Aasim Jan, Graduate Student, Center for Gravitational Physics, University of Texas, Austin,
January 28, 2026 4:00 pm

Astronomy Colloquium

Cahill, Hameetman Auditorium
TBD
Pradip Gatkine, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, UCLA,

Recent Publications

For a complete publications list, see feeds.library.caltech.edu