Upcoming Dates
  • Jun 5: Summer Semester begins
  • Jun 19: Juneteenth
  • Jul 4: Independence Day
  • Jul 29: Summer Semester ends
  • Aug 21: Fall Semester begins
  • Sep 4: Labor Day
  • Oct 12–Oct 13: Fall Break
  • Nov 23–Nov 24: Thanksgiving
 
Peer Undergraduate Mentorship Program

Build connections within the physics and astronomy community at UNM

 

New Campus Observatory Proposed

Support our educational, research, and public outreach efforts

Saturday, October 14, 2023, 9 am to noon

Annular Solar Eclipse

The Ring Eclipse, photograph courtesy Kevin Baird 2012

This coming October, an Annular Solar Eclipse will take place. Albuquerque will be right in the path; we will be able to see the Moon covering the Sun leaving a narrow ring of sunlight around the dark disk of the Moon.

To enjoy this event, UNM is planning a viewing party. It will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 14th at UNM's Johnson Field. More details of our event will be added to this webpage as we get closer to the date.

To read more about annular eclipses, see solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/overview.

For inquiries, please email observatory@unm.edu.

Chair: Richard Rand

An undergraduate education in physics provides a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning in a variety of disciplines, including science, engineering, math, finance, education, law, and medicine. Find out more.

Meet our Graduate Student Association and get their tips for prospective students

Alumni testimonials: Read success stories from alumni of our department and their reflections on the quality of our programs.

News from the Chair 2023 Department Convocation

The Department hosted a wonderful convocation ceremony on May 13 in PAÍS 1100. Professor Emerita and NRAO Assistant Director for New Mexico Operations Trish Henning gave the convocation address. View the full program here, and see more photos on our Facebook page.

Congratulations to all graduates!

News from the Chair The Department features heavily at the upcoming American Astronomical Society meeting in Albuquerque

The Long Wavelength Array

Astronomers in the department have partnered with National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) to organize two special sessions at the American Astronomical Society’s semi-annual meeting taking place June 4-8 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. These meetings are the biggest gatherings of astronomers in the country.

There will be a session called "Radio Astronomy in New Mexico" which will feature talks on the UNM’s Long Wavelength Array (LWA) radio telescope by Research Associate Professor Jayce Dowell, on the Very Large Array by Professor Emeritus and Assistant Director for New Mexico Operations at NRAO, Trish Henning, and on UNM’s LWA Swarm concept by Tom Maccarone of Texas Tech.

What’s more, Distinguished Professor Greg Taylor has been chosen to give a Plenary Talk entitled "A Decade of Observing with the Long Wavelength Array".

There will also be a session entitled "Astronomy and Astronomy Education in New Mexico" which aims to highlight statewide astronomy-related efforts such as: education and mentorship programs, outreach projects, and resources for both amateur and professional astronomers to take advantage of the state’s pristine night skies. The session will include a contributed talk on the department’s undergraduate peer mentoring program, PUMP.

Read the UNM Newsroom article.

News from the Chair

Towards a New Campus Observatory

Observatory Fundraising
We want to make sure our educational, outreach, and research activities are preserved, expanded, and able to continue for a long time to come

The UNM Campus Observatory has initiated a crowdfunding campaign in an effort to raise funds for the planning of a new Campus Observatory. The current Campus Observatory was built in the 1950s and is now outdated among other concerns.

Read the UNM Newsroom article about the planning for this new facility.

Find out how to donate to our goal.

News from the Chair

Job Opportunities at UNM Physics & Astronomy

We’re looking to fill the following post-doc positions:

 

Upcoming Events


Other Events:

Sun 6/18, 8:00AM in Multiple rooms, Mohammad Amin (D-Wave) Jemma Bennett (University of Innsbruck) Lucas Brady (NASA Q..., Adiabatic Quantum Computing (AQC) 2023


Sat 10/14, 9:15AM in Albuquerque, The Sun and the Moon, Annular Eclipse

 

Research Experience for Undergrads

REU 2022 program participants

Make Your Summer Count!

A 10 week internship program in Albuquerque, NM

 

Interactive Astronomy Apps

Javascript apps

9 Educational Apps

Written by Kevin Dilts for the Astro 101 Lab, these free interactive javascript apps illustrate common astronomy concepts. Enjoy!

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