CWRU Astronomy

09/17/2025

Is a 132 year old part still under warranty? Probably not!

Some time in the last week, this piece of the 9 1/2” refracting telescope on the roof of AW Smith failed, disabling the tracking drive designed to allow the telescope to follow observing targets in the sky. While this is a pretty important 1/2 inch of threaded brass tube, it’s a testament to the quality of the construction by the Warner & Swasey company that this is likely to be an original piece of the telescope, which was assembled in *1893*. A temporary fix is in place and we hope to have a replacement piece within a couple of weeks!

12/17/2024

At CWRU's "Intersections" event highlighting student research, CWRU Astro/Phys seniors Ananda Smith and Katherine Barber shared first place honors in the physical sciences for their presentations.

Congratulations to both!

12/07/2024

At today's CWRU Intersections research gala, CWRU Astronomy senior Katherine Barber presented her research using supercomputer simulations of galaxy clusters to probe stellar populations in the intracluster light that fills galaxy clusters.

09/16/2024

Hey, look! CWRU Astro's Tobias Mistele is CWRU's "Postdoc of the Month"!

Postdoctoral fellow Tobias Mistele’s research is expanding our understanding of galaxies, dark matter and modified gravity. But Mistele, who came to Case Western Reserve University from Germany, wouldn’t be doing this work if he hadn’t gotten “sidetracked” after initially training as a the...

07/24/2024

All of us at CWRU Astronomy are very sad to share the news of the passing of Professor Emeritus Peter Pesch. Peter contributed so much to the success and legacy of our program, from his teaching and mentoring of students to his many important scientific contributions to astronomical research. He will be well-remembered for many many years to come.

View Peter Pesch's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

07/17/2024

Check out the latest work from researchers Dr Tobias Mistele and Prof Stacy McGaugh!

A million light years and going: Groundbreaking research from Case Western Reserve shows rotation curves of galaxies stay flat indefinitely.

01/11/2024

CWRU Astronomy folks presenting their work at this week's annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans!

08/17/2023

CWRU astronomers in the news!

WKYC here in Cleveland (the NBC TV affiliate) recently televised a story about the Warner and Swasey Company and the telescopes they built. As part of that story, they interviewed CWRU astronomer Charley Knox for his technical and historical perspective.

Here's a link to the story and the video, take a look!

How two business partners’ passion for the sky influences how we look at the stars.

06/29/2023

Very happy to share the news that CWRU Astronomy senior grad student Ray Garner successfully defended his PhD thesis yesterday and is now DOCTOR Ray Garner. Congratulations, Dr Garner, very well done!

06/06/2023

Want to learn a bit more about Pluto? Check out this article featuring a chat with CWRU Astronomy's Dr Emily Safron!

Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in the solar system. It was demoted in 2006.