News & Announcements
Observatory status: Due to COVID-19 precautions, we have canceled all in-person star
parties and outreach activities until further notice. Please continue to follow us
on Facebook and YouTube for online astronomy content.
Physics & Astronomy Department hoodies are now available available for purchase for
$30!
https://umarket.utah.edu/um2/pa/product.php?product=104&storecookie=1 You may come to pick up your hoodie in person Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00
p.m. in JFB 201. Please wait at least one full business day after placing your order
before coming to pick it up and bring a copy of your receipt (on your phone is fine if you don't have easy access to a printer). If you're not
comfortable coming in person, you may pay an additional charge of $10 for shipping/handling
and we'll mail it to you through USPS Priority Mail. We've rounded up the cost to
$30 each, which includes tax. The couple dollars “profit” from each sweatshirt will
go to the Physics & Astronomy Student Emergency Fund. More information about this
fund may be found here: https://give.communityfunded.com/o/university-of-utah-39/i/ustarter/s/physics
COVID-19 Updates for U of U Campus and Community
Department Main Office Hours (JFB 201)
Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Accounting Office (JFB 203)
Mondays and Thursdays only, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; other times by appointment.
These hours are subject to change at any time.
Alumni Snapshots: Perry Hacking
Alumni Snapshots: Perry HackingDr. Perry Hacking has always loved astronomy, so there was nothing for him to do but pursue and follow that passion throughout his life. “I had a one-track mind, and learning about astronomy drove most of my thoughts during my little free time and all of my energy behind my academic and professional life,” he said. “I never wanted some position or title—I just wanted to learn more about astronomy or contribute to the world learning more about it. I’m grateful I’ve been able to devote my life to something I love.”
New Churchill Scholar is U's 6th, Tying Second-Longest Streak
New Churchill Scholar is U's 6th, Tying Second-Longest StreakIsaac Martin, a senior honors student majoring in mathematics and physics, has received the prestigious Churchill Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He is one of only 17 students nationally to receive the award this year and is the sixth consecutive Churchill Scholar from the University of Utah.
New Perovskite LED Emits a Circularly Polarized Glow
New Perovskite LED Emits a Circularly Polarized GlowLight-emitting diodes (LEDs) have revolutionized the displays industry. LEDs use electric current to produce visible light without the excess heat found in traditional light bulbs, a glow called electroluminescence. This breakthrough led to the eye-popping, high-definition viewing experience we’ve come to expect from our screens. Now, a group of physicists and chemists have developed a new type of LED that utilizes spintronics without needing a magnetic field, magnetic materials or cryogenic temperatures; a “quantum leap” that could take displays to the next level.