The Department of Astronomy is an independent, active, and vibrant department that offers undergraduate and graduate instruction at a public University in New England. The Department is active in a broad range of award-winning observational and theoretical astrophysics, engaging students in cutting-edge research inside and outside of the classroom. We seek to challenge and enhance our understanding of the cosmos that we live in.
UMass is a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) alongside Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Hampshire College. As a result, students have access to a broad array of FCAD resources and interact with individuals across all five colleges.
Telescopes and Resources
• Partner in the 50-m Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) in Mexico
• Access to the Perkins 1.8-m optical telescope for AST341 and research
• Access to advanced computational facilities
• Continuum and heterodyne instrument labs
• Involved in Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) project
• Faculty with joint affiliations at the Cosmic Dawn Center in Copenhagen
Ways to Support UMass Astronomy
All donations are deeply appreciated. Examples of how this funding is used to support the department include:
• Enabling upgrades to the historic Orchard Hill telescope
• Supporting paid undergraduate research for historically excluded groups through the AstroTROUP program
• Funding student conference travel and named awards for students’ scholarly achievements
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Student Alumni Association | 128 |
| 2 | $500 | UMass Women into Leadership | 90 |
| 3 | $500 | Professional Writing and Technical Communication | 36 |
| 4 | College of Education Student Emergency Fund | 10 | |
| 5 | Men's Lacrosse | 8 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Protect Our Breasts | 112 |
| 2 | $500 | University Without Walls | 69 |
| 3 | $500 | Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning | 31 |
| 4 | Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences | 29 | |
| 5 | Indian Classical Arts Society | 27 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Minuteman Marching Band | 87 |
| 2 | $500 | Fencing Club | 74 |
| 3 | $500 | Active Minds | 65 |
| 4 | Climbing Club | 60 | |
| 5 | HackUMass | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | The Massachusetts Daily Collegian | 277 |
| 2 | $500 | Men's Ultimate Frisbee | 134 |
| 3 | $500 | UMass CHAARG | 99 |
| 4 | Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management | 85 | |
| 5 | The Boltwood Project | 75 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Stonewall Center | 160 |
| 2 | $500 | Model UN | 71 |
| 3 | $500 | Women for UMass Amherst | 48 |
| 4 | Film Studies Program | 41 | |
| 5 | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 13 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Rugby | 167 |
| 2 | $500 | Women’s Rugby Football Club | 122 |
| 3 | $500 | Student Care & Emergency Response Fund | 52 |
| 4 | UMass EMS | 46 | |
| 5 | UMass Hillel | 33 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Men's Club Rowing | 216 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Club Ice Hockey | 123 |
| 3 | $500 | Spanish and Portuguese Studies | 78 |
| 4 | Filipino Student Association | 69 | |
| 5 | Nursing Study Abroad Scholarships | 25 |
| Rank | Prize | Department/Group/RSO | Donors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 | Duly Noted | 270 |
| 2 | $500 | Women's Ultimate Frisbee | 148 |
| 3 | $500 | Boxing Club | 80 |
| 4 | Engineers Without Borders | 40 | |
| 5 | Cape Verdean Student Alliance | 32 |
