Astronomy Research Centre (ARC)

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Snapshot of a 3D stellar hydrodynamics simulation

Stellar Hydrodynamics Workshop at UVic

The Computational Stellar Astrophysics group hosts the international workshop Stellar Hydro Days VI on the UVic campus May 12-16, 2025. This event focuses on 2D/3D hydrodynamic simulations and processes in stellar interiors.

Stellar Hydrodynamics Workshop at UVic

ALMA Detects Instabilities in Planet-Forming Disk

A study led by University of Victoria graduate student Jess Speedie, published in the prestigious journal Nature, has unveiled a key finding in planet formation. By using high-sensitivity data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), Speedie and the team detected gravitational “wiggles” in the gas disk around the young star AB Aurigae. These wiggles indicate that when disks around young stars become sufficiently massive, they can collapse under their own gravity to form giant planets like Jupiter, confirming predictions of the gravitational instability model. Image Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NSF NRAO), VLT/SPHERE (ESO), Speedie et al.

Instabilities in Planet-Forming Disk

Discovery of Cosmic “Question Mark” with JWST

The CANUCS team, led by HAA astronomer Chris Willott, has captured an extraordinary image of the galaxy cluster MACS J0417.5-1154 using the James Webb Space Telescope. The cluster's immense gravity bends the light from distant galaxies behind it, producing a stunning gravitational lensing effect. Among these distorted images is a rare cosmic "question mark," created by the light of two interacting galaxies stretched into this remarkable shape. Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, V. Estrada-Carpenter

Discovery of Cosmic “Question Mark"

JWST Unveils Dusty Protoplanets Around a Young Star

A team led by UVic grad student Dori Blakely, alongside faculty members Doug Johnstone and Ruobing Dong, successfully utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to capture groundbreaking images of dust around two protoplanets orbiting the young star PDS 70. Using the Canadian-provided NIRISS instrument, the team revealed new insights into exoplanet formation, showcasing UVic's significant contributions to this cutting-edge astronomical research.Image Credit:Blakely et al

Dusty Protoplanets Around a Young Star

Evidence of Planet Formation in Young Star Disks

UVic’s graduate student Camryn Mullin, alongside UVic faculties Ruobing Dong and Doug Johnstone, has harnessed the James Webb Space Telescope to search for forming planets in the disks around young stars. Utilizing Webb’s NIRCam instrument, they investigated HL Tau, SAO 206462, and MWC 758, revealing significant evidence of planetary formation. Their research, published in a series of three papers, highlights the intricate structures within these disks, advancing our understanding of exoplanet formation and positioning UVic at the forefront of astronomical discovery. Image credit: NAOJ/Subaru

Planet Formation in Young Star Disks

Discovery of the Faintest Known Milky Way Satellite

Simon Smith, a graduate student at the University of Victoria, led a team that discovered a new, extremely faint satellite of the Milky Way Galaxy, named “Ursa Major III/UNIONS 1” (UMa3/U1). This discovery was made using images from the multi-observatory UNIONS survey. UMa3/U1, estimated to be 32,000 lightyears from the Sun and 11 billion years old, has a total mass of only about 16 solar masses. The team suggests it could be a remnant of a dwarf galaxy, stripped of most of its mass by the Milky Way.

The Faintest Milky Way Satellite

The ARC

The Astronomy Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Victoria brings together world-renowned researchers in astrophysics, engineering, computation, and instrumentation working in or near Victoria, BC.

UVic scientists and engineers work closely with colleagues at the nearby NRC Herzberg Institute in Saanich, the NRC DRAO in Penticton, and at TRIUMF in Vancouver, to form one of the largest concentrations of astronomy-related talent in Canada.

Our mission is to communicate the exciting astronomical research being done at/with UVic, to facilitate new collaborations and synergy, to support high quality undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral training, and to foster public engagement in science.