Astronomy

University of California, Berkeley

Overview

The Department of Astronomy offers undergraduate and graduate instruction in a wide variety of fields, including theoretical and observational astrophysics; infrared, optical, and radio astronomy; galactic structure and dynamics of stellar systems; high-energy astrophysics and cosmology; star and planet formation; and spectroscopy. A considerable amount of research and teaching related to astronomy is done in other units at UC Berkeley, including the Physics Department, Earth and Planetary Science, Space Science Laboratory, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Various professors in the Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, and Engineering departments have an active interest in astronomy and are available for consultation.

Facilities

Many instruments are available to students and staff, including two 10-meter telescopes at the Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii; 30-inch, 40-inch, and 120-inch telescopes at Lick Observatory; a 16-element millimeter-wave interferometer in Southern California; the PAPER Array in South Africa; and a 30-inch telescope at Leuschner Observatory (near the campus). Laboratories are available for the development of radio, infrared, and optical instruments for the precise measurement of images and spectra. For further information regarding these resources, see the Facilities page on the department's website.

Physics-Astronomy Library

The Physics-Astronomy Library is located in 351 Physics North. The Physics-Astronomy Library has approximately 95,000 volumes available (on campus and at the NRLF) and 700 journal subscriptions.

Astronomy Reading Room

The Astronomy Reading Room is located in 229 Campbell Hall and contains a selection of useful books and journals. For further information, see the Reading Room Catalog.

Organized Research Units

The Radio Astronomy Lab is involved with many instruments and projects.

The Theoretical Astrophysics Center includes faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and students working on a wide variety of problems in theoretical astrophysics.

The Center for Integrative Planetary Science is involved in many research projects including the ongoing Extrasolar Planet Search, astrobiology, and research into planetary composition and formation.

Other Research Projects and Opportunities

For further information on other research projects and opportunities, including faculty research publications, see the Research page of the department's website.

Undergraduate Program

Astrophysics: BA, Minor

Graduate Program

Astrophysics: PhD

Visit Department Website

Courses

Astronomy

Contact Information

Department of Astronomy

501 Campbell Hall #3411

Phone: (510) 642-5275

Visit Department Website

Department Chair

Josh Bloom

501 Campbell Hall

joshbloom@berkeley.edu

Undergraduate Major Advisor

Brianna Franklin

501E Campbell Hall

bfranklin@berkeley.edu

Department Manager

Maria Kies

501E Campbell Hall

emkies@berkeley.edu

Academic Affairs Analyst & Graduate Student Affairs Adviser

Yasasha Ridel

yasasha@berkeley.edu

Computing – System Admin

Bill Boyd

501K Campbell Hall

Phone: (510) 642-3163

bboyd@astro.berkeley.edu

Back to Top