The Astronomy department at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, stands as a premier global hub for astronomical research and education. Located within the Cahill Center, the department is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the cosmos through pioneering theoretical, observational, and experimental astrophysics. Research spans a vast range of topics including cosmology, galaxy evolution, exoplanets, and gravitational waves, leveraging access to world-class facilities like Palomar, Keck, and OVRO, and serving as headquarters for the LIGO lab. Offering rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs, the department trains future scientific leaders, emphasizing hands-on research and comprehensive coursework, building upon a distinguished history of groundbreaking discoveries that have profoundly shaped astronomy.
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The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) is a private research university located in Pasadena, California. Caltech is among a small group of institutes of technology in the United States which are strongly devoted to the instruction of pure and applied sciences. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphasis on science and engineering, managing $332 million in 2011 in sponsored research. Its 124-acre (50 ha) primary campus is located approximately 11 mi (18 km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles. First-year students are required to live on campus, and 95% of undergraduates remain in the on-campus House System at Caltech. Although Caltech has a strong tradition of practical jokes and pranks, student life is governed by an honor code which allows faculty to assign take-home examinations. The Caltech Beavers compete in 13 intercollegiate sports in the NCAA Division III's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
