University of Virginia astronomer Yifan Zhou is leading the first direct measurement of a day on Beta Pictoris b, a super-Jupiter 63 light-years away. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, the team found the planet rotates every nine hours and spins in alignment with its orbit and host star, suggesting it formed gradually within a protoplanetary disk rather than through chaotic gravitational collapse.
Illustration by Avery Wagner At the University of Virginia, a new initiative is reshaping how scientists think about some of the universe’s biggest mysteries. The Interconnected Cosmos Initiative brings together […]
Kelsey Johnson, a professor of astronomy, is driven by a deep curiosity about the universe’s most fundamental processes. Her current research focuses on extreme star clusters, known as super star clusters. By analyzing how these clusters form, Johnson hopes to gain insights about the physical conditions of the early universe.
GET THE STORIES BEHIND THE RESEARCH
Receive updates about the discoveries, researchers, and ideas shaping our world — straight from UVA.