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Three Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Scientists to Be Honored at the 2026 Smithsonian Secretary's Research Prize Ceremony

Laura Brenneman and Catherine Zucker receive Secretary's Research Prizes; Rosanne Di Stefano to deliver the 13th annual Bruce William "Will" Morrison Memorial Lecture Cambridge, MA (October 27, 2026) ...
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Astronomer Liam Connor Awarded Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering

The 20 early-career scientists, mathematicians, and engineers will each receive $985,834 over five years to pursue their research. Cambridge, MA (Oct. 15, 2026)---Astronomer Liam Connor of the Center ...
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NASA’s Hubble Fellowship Program Symposium Brings 70 Early-Career Astronomers to the Center for Astrophysics

Cambridge, MA (October 8, 2026) — Last week, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) hosted 70 NASA Hubble Fellows from across the U.S. for the program’s Annual Symposium in ...
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CfA Researchers Lead Two of 24 NASA Projects Selected to Expand Public Access to Space Science Nationwide

Mary Dussault's "Telescopes for All" and Alyssa Goodman's "Cosmic Data Stories" among winning proposals in NASA's $23.5 Million Science Activation Program. Cambridge, MA (October 14, 2026) —NASA’s ...
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Wins AI For Math Fund Award

Cambridge, MA (October 14, 2026) —Cecilia Garraffo, CfA astrophysicist and AstroAI director, has been awarded $316,000 as part of a $988,000 AI for Math Fund award from Renaissance Philanthropy in ...
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Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Receives $3.6M from Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to Advance Next-Generation Event Horizon Telescope

Cambridge, MA (September 17, 2026) — The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), part of the Center for Astrophysics, has been awarded $3,597,771 from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF) ...
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New study reveals common pattern of black hole activity shaping nearby galaxies

Cambridge, MA (September 14, 2026) —A new study of nine nearby galaxies has shown that actively growing supermassive black holes may contribute to star formation, instead preventing star formation, in ...
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How the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope Will Change Astronomy

Named for Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and a pioneer who helped pave the way for the Hubble Space Telescope and other space-based observatories, the telescope will give astronomers ...
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Founding Gift Establishes Smithsonian STARS Program in Delaware in Honor of Rev. Barbara Louise Hebner

A founding gift from longtime Smithsonian supporter Laura Peebles and the Barbara Hebner Charitable Fund at Vanguard Charitable will launch the Smithsonian Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools ...
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Astronomers find strongest evidence yet that Betelgeuse has a companion

Astronomers have firm evidence that Betelgeuse, one of the most famous stars in the night sky, is not alone. Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT), a team ...
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First atmosphere detected on a habitable-zone rocky world

In a major milestone in the search for life on other planets, astronomers have detected, for the first time, an atmosphere surrounding an Earth-like, rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of ...
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Scientists find a calm island of potential star-forming gas at the Milky Way’s center

The results suggest that the earliest steps of star formation may work in a similar way across diverse environments of our galaxy. Pasadena, CA (June 16, 2026) —Astronomers have discovered a calm ...