The cosmic microwave background is the oldest light in the Universe. The ObsCos lab studies this light to understand the origins and evolution of the Universe.

Observational Cosmology Laboratory (ObsCos) @ The University of Illinois

The Observational Cosmology (ObsCos) group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is engaged in cutting-edge research across the fields of astrophysics and cosmology. We conduct obervations of the composition and evolution of the Universe with the most powerful facilities on Earth and in space, and also develop novel instrumentation. Under the direction of Professor Joaquin Vieira, the ObsCos group members span the Department of Astronomy, the Department of Physics, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and the Center for AstroPhysical Surveys (CAPS).

Researchers in the ObsCos group perform data analysis using state of the art facilities in an ongoing endeavor to map and interpret the composition and evolution of the Universe. We regularly observe with such facilities as SPT, ALMA, Hubble, JWST, and Gemini.

The ObsCos lab also works on developing instrumentation for next-generation experiments, such as the South Pole Telescope (SPT), CMB-S4, and the Terahertz Intensity Mapper (TIM). This research and development regularly exposes students to machining, optics, detector development, software simulation, electronics, data acquisition, and involvement in large scientific collaborations.

The 10 meter South Pole Telescope at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.

The U. Illinois Observational Cosmology Group (ObsCos) in October 2023.

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