Peter Garnavich

In the 1970s, observing a partial eclipse as a boy led to Garnavich's interest in astronomy and physics. According to Garnavich, "The eclipse is what pushed me over the edge and I decided that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."{{Cite news |last=Blake |first=Bob |date=Aug 6, 2017 |title=Area prepares for the Great American Eclipse |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511608142/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=South Bend Tribune |pages=A1, A5}}

Garnavich pursued amateur astronomy while in high school as a member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).{{Cite web |title=garnavich |url=https://www.aavso.org/users/garnavich |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.aavso.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=AAVSO -- WebObs Search Results |url=https://app.aavso.org/webobs/results/?obscode=GAP&num_results=25&obs_types=all |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=app.aavso.org}} He independently discovered Nova Cygni 1975 and the night before obtained prediscovery photographs using Kodak Tri-X Pan emulsion film. The early rise of Nova Cygni 1975 was defined by his data combined with observations by Ben Mayer.{{Cite journal |last1=Liller |first1=W. |last2=Shao |first2=C. Y. |last3=Mayer |first3=B. |last4=Garnavich |first4=P. |last5=Harbrecht |first5=R. P. |last6=Wallentine |first6=D. |last7=Simmons |first7=K. |last8=Maley |first8=P. |date=1975-10-01 |title=Nova Cygni 1975 |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1975IAUC.2848....4L |journal=International Astronomical Union Circular |issue=2848 |pages=4 |bibcode=1975IAUC.2848....4L |issn=0081-0304}}

Garnavich earned a bachelor of science in astronomy from the University of Maryland in 1980, a master of science in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1983, and a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Washington in 1991.

Garnavich has been a co-author on over 900 papers, a first author on over 200 papers, and has an h-index of 99 according to Google Scholar.{{Cite web |title=Peter Garnavich |url=https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5zuurTYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=scholar.google.com}}

Garnavich served as a research associate at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STSI) from 1983 to 1985. He worked with Barry Lasker on the Guide Star Catalog{{Cite journal |last1=Lasker |first1=Barry M. |last2=Garnavich |first2=Peter M. |last3=Reynolds |first3=Anne P. |date=1987-09-01 |title=On the Distribution of Colors for Stars in the Ninth to Fifteenth Magnitude Range: Statistics and Implications for Galactic Structure |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1987ApJ...320..502L |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=320 |pages=502 |doi=10.1086/165568 |bibcode=1987ApJ...320..502L |issn=0004-637X}} for the Hubble Space Telescope.{{Cite web |title=GSC - HST Guide Star Catalog, Version 1.2 |url=https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/all/gsc.html |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov}}

Following the completion of his Ph.D., Garnavich was a postdoctoral fellow at Dominion Astrophysical Observatory from 1992 to 1995. He used the 72-inch Plaskett telescope to measure the age and distance of open star cluster NGC 6791.{{Cite journal |title=1994AJ....107.1097G Page 1097 |url=https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1994AJ....107.1097G |access-date=2024-06-10 |journal=The Astronomical Journal|bibcode=1994AJ....107.1097G |last1=Garnavich |first1=Peter M. |last2=Vandenberg |first2=Don A. |last3=Zurek |first3=David R. |last4=Hesser |first4=James E. |date=1994 |volume=107 |page=1097 |doi=10.1086/116921 }} Garnavich also was able to obtain spectra of bright supernova SN 1993J located in nearby galaxy M81.{{Cite journal |last1=Garnavich |first1=P. |last2=Challis |first2=P. |last3=Kirshner |first3=R. |last4=Wells |first4=L. |last5=Berlind |first5=P. |date=1995-11-01 |title=Supernova 1993J in NGC 3031 |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995IAUC.6257....1G |journal=International Astronomical Union Circular |issue=6257 |pages=1 |bibcode=1995IAUC.6257....1G |issn=0081-0304}}

Garnavich also was a fellow at the Center for Astrophysics {{!}} Harvard & Smithsonian from 1995 to 1999. In 1998, Garnavich led a team that used the Hubble Space Telescope to observe three distant high-redshift supernovae, the first published results of the High-Z Supernova Search Team.{{Cite journal |last1=Garnavich |first1=P. M. |last2=Kirshner |first2=R. P. |last3=Challis |first3=P. |last4=Tonry |first4=J. |last5=Gilliland |first5=R. L. |last6=Smith |first6=R. C. |last7=Clocchiatti |first7=A. |last8=Diercks |first8=A. |last9=Filippenko |first9=A. V. |last10=Hamuy |first10=M. |last11=Hogan |first11=C. J. |last12=Leibundgut |first12=B. |last13=Phillips |first13=M. M. |last14=Reiss |first14=D. |last15=Riess |first15=A. G. |date=1998-02-01 |title=Constraints on Cosmological Models from Hubble Space Telescope Observations of High-z Supernovae |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=493 |issue=2 |pages=L53–L57 |doi=10.1086/311140|arxiv=astro-ph/9710123 |bibcode=1998ApJ...493L..53G }} The supernova observations indicated that the universe was not slowing down in its expansion and would potentially expand forever.{{Cite news |last=Wilford |first=John Noble |date=Jan 9, 1998 |title=New Data Suggest Universe Will Expand Forever |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1998/01/09/994677.html?pageNumber=1 |access-date=Jun 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |pages=1}}{{Cite news |last=Recer |first=Paul |date=Jan 9, 1998 |title=Studies suggest universe will expand forever and not collapse |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/931193763/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=Enterprise Record |pages=7}} These images were also featured on the January 14, 1998 Astronomy Picture of the Day internet site.{{Cite web |title=APOD: January 14, 1998 - A Distant Destiny |url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap980114.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=apod.nasa.gov}}

Garnavich was a key member of the High-Z Supernova Search Team that discovered the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. That discovery{{Cite journal |last1=Riess |first1=Adam G. |last2=Filippenko |first2=Alexei V. |last3=Challis |first3=Peter |last4=Clocchiattia |first4=Alejandro |last5=Diercks |first5=Alan |last6=Garnavich |first6=Peter M. |last7=Gilliland |first7=Ron L. |last8=Hogan |first8=Craig J. |last9=Jha |first9=Saurabh |last10=Kirshner |first10=Robert P. |last11=Leibundgut |first11=B. |last12=Phillips |first12=M. M. |last13=Reiss |first13=David |last14=Schmidt |first14=Brian P. |last15=Schommer |first15=Robert A. |date=May 15, 1998 |title=Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant |journal=The Astronomical Journal |volume=116 |issue=3 |pages=1009–1038 |doi=10.1086/300499|arxiv=astro-ph/9805201 }} was awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics, and the prize was given to High-Z team leader Brian Schmidt and team member Adam Reiss. Also receiving the prize was Saul Perlmutter of the Supernova Cosmology Project.

File:High Z Team Chris-V3.jpg

Also while at the Center for Astrophysics, Garnavich began to collaborate with Kris Stanek to study the origin of enigmatic gamma ray bursts (GRB). These distant explosions, among the most powerful in the universe, were thought to be linked to supernovae, but confirmation of this relationship was needed. Garnavich and Stanek detected features attributed to a supernova in the spectrum of "nearby" (6-billion light years) gamma ray burst GRB 011121 which was observed in 2001. Their results linked gamma ray bursts with supernovae.{{Cite web |title=Gamma ray bursts tied to supernovae |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2293-gamma-ray-bursts-tied-to-supernovae/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}}{{Cite journal |last1=Garnavich |first1=P. M. |last2=Stanek |first2=K. Z. |last3=Wyrzykowski |first3=L. |last4=Infante |first4=L. |last5=Bendek |first5=E. |last6=Bersier |first6=D. |last7=Holland |first7=S. T. |last8=Jha |first8=S. |last9=Matheson |first9=T. |last10=Kirshner |first10=R. P. |last11=Krisciunas |first11=K. |last12=Phillips |first12=M. M. |last13=Carlberg |first13=R. G. |date=2003-01-10 |title=Discovery of the Low-Redshift Optical Afterglow of GRB 011121 and Its Progenitor Supernova 2001ke |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=582 |issue=2 |pages=924–932 |doi=10.1086/344785 |arxiv=astro-ph/0204234 |issn=0004-637X}} As with this result, observations of GRB 030329 in 2003 led Garnavich to suggest that the progenitor star was likely a "hypernova", an exploding star of mass 20-50 times that of our sun.{{Cite news |last=Falda |first=Wayne |date=Apr 21, 2003 |title=Professor finds proof of theory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511483133/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=South Bend Tribune |pages=C1, C4}}{{Cite journal |last1=Stanek |first1=K. Z. |last2=Matheson |first2=T. |last3=Garnavich |first3=P. M. |last4=Martini |first4=P. |last5=Berlind |first5=P. |last6=Caldwell |first6=N. |last7=Challis |first7=P. |last8=Brown |first8=W. R. |last9=Schild |first9=R. |last10=Krisciunas |first10=K. |last11=Calkins |first11=M. L. |last12=Lee |first12=J. C. |last13=Hathi |first13=N. |last14=Jansen |first14=R. A. |last15=Windhorst |first15=R. |date=2003-07-01 |title=Spectroscopic Discovery of the Supernova 2003dh Associated with GRB 030329 |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=591 |issue=1 |pages=L17–L20 |doi=10.1086/376976 |issn=0004-637X|arxiv=astro-ph/0304173 }} In 2005, after joining the faculty of the University of Notre Dame, Garnavich used the Spitzer Space Telescope to measure the heat (afterglow) in far-infrared of another gamma ray burst, GRB 050525a.{{Cite web |title=Gamma-Ray Burst 050525a |url=https://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/image/sig05-007-gamma-ray-burst-050525a |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.spitzer.caltech.edu}}

In 2000, Garnavich joined the University of Notre Dame{{Cite web |last=Newswire |first=AScribe |date=2000-10-11 |title=Team Captures Shape of Gamma-Ray Blast |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/team-captures-shape-of-gamma-ray-blast/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en}} as an assistant professor and was promoted to associate professor in 2003. In 2008, he earned the rank of full professor. Garnavich was appointed chair of the Department of Physics in 2017. In 2022, the department was officially named the Department of Physics and Astronomy.{{Cite web |last=Dame |first=Marketing Communications: Web {{!}} University of Notre |title=History of Physics and Astronomy at Notre Dame |url=https://physics.nd.edu/about/history/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Department of Physics and Astronomy |language=en}} The current chair of the department is Morten Eskildsen.{{Cite web |last=Dame |first=Marketing Communications: Web {{!}} University of Notre |title=Morten Eskildsen |url=https://physics.nd.edu/people/morten-eskildsen/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Department of Physics and Astronomy |language=en}}

File:SNeIa hst big.jpg

Working with colleagues from Harvard, in 2003 Garnavich published results of a study of pre-main sequence star KH 15D. As a binary star system, the team concluded that anomalous changes in brightness were likely caused by a disk of opaque matter occulting the star. The paper's main author is Joshua Winn of Princeton University.{{Cite journal |last1=Winn |first1=Joshua N. |last2=Holman |first2=Matthew J. |last3=Johnson |first3=John A. |last4=Stanek |first4=Krzysztof Z. |last5=Garnavich |first5=Peter M. |date=2004-03-01 |title=KH 15D: Gradual Occultation of a Pre-Main-Sequence Binary |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=603 |issue=1 |pages=L45–L48 |doi=10.1086/383089 |issn=0004-637X|arxiv=astro-ph/0312458 }}{{Cite web |title=Joshua Winn |url=https://web.astro.princeton.edu/people/joshua-winn |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Department of Astrophysical Sciences |language=en}}

Also at Notre Dame, Garnavich continued his supernova and cosmology research. As a member of the ESSENCE Supernova Survey collaboration, Garnavich obtained the spectra and distances of 102 Type 1a supernovae.{{Cite journal |last1=Miknaitis |first1=G. |last2=Pignata |first2=G. |last3=Rest |first3=A. |last4=Wood-Vasey |first4=W. M. |last5=Blondin |first5=S. |last6=Challis |first6=P. |last7=Smith |first7=R. C. |last8=Stubbs |first8=C. W. |last9=Suntzeff |first9=N. B. |last10=Foley |first10=R. J. |last11=Matheson |first11=T. |last12=Tonry |first12=J. L. |last13=Aguilera |first13=C. |last14=Blackman |first14=J. W. |last15=Becker |first15=A. C. |date=2007-09-01 |title=The ESSENCE Supernova Survey: Survey Optimization, Observations, and Supernova Photometry |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007ApJ...666..674M |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=666 |issue=2 |pages=674–693 |doi=10.1086/519986 |arxiv=astro-ph/0701043 |bibcode=2007ApJ...666..674M |issn=0004-637X}} Some of these data were used to estimate the value of the "dark energy equation of state parameter" (w), a measure of the density of dark energy in an expanding universe.{{Cite journal |last1=Wood-Vasey |first1=W. M. |last2=Miknaitis |first2=G. |last3=Stubbs |first3=C. W. |last4=Jha |first4=S. |last5=Riess |first5=A. G. |last6=Garnavich |first6=P. M. |last7=Kirshner |first7=R. P. |last8=Aguilera |first8=C. |last9=Becker |first9=A. C. |last10=Blackman |first10=J. W. |last11=Blondin |first11=S. |last12=Challis |first12=P. |last13=Clocchiatti |first13=A. |last14=Conley |first14=A. |last15=Covarrubias |first15=R. |date=2007-09-10 |title=Observational Constraints on the Nature of the Dark Energy: First Cosmological Results from the ESSENCE Supernova Survey |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=666 |issue=2 |pages=694–715 |doi=10.1086/518642 |arxiv=astro-ph/0701041 |bibcode=2007ApJ...666..694W |issn=0004-637X}}{{Cite web |title=The dark energy equation of state – Sean Carroll |url=https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/blog/2004/09/10/the-dark-energy-equation-of-state/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |language=en-US}}

Using data from the SDSS-II Supernova Survey, Garnavich was able to link Type 1a supernova rates with galaxy characteristics. This work involved comparing the early behavior of supernova light curves with models of the progenitor stars.{{Cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Mathew |last2=Nichol |first2=Robert C. |last3=Dilday |first3=Benjamin |last4=Marriner |first4=John |last5=Kessler |first5=Richard |last6=Bassett |first6=Bruce |last7=Cinabro |first7=David |last8=Frieman |first8=Joshua |last9=Garnavich |first9=Peter |last10=Jha |first10=Saurabh W. |last11=Lampeitl |first11=Hubert |last12=Sako |first12=Masao |last13=Schneider |first13=Donald P. |last14=Sollerman |first14=Jesper |date=Jul 2012 |title=THE SDSS-II SUPERNOVA SURVEY: PARAMETERIZING THE TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA RATE AS A FUNCTION OF HOST GALAXY PROPERTIES |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/755/1/61 |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |language=en |volume=755 |issue=1 |pages=61 |doi=10.1088/0004-637X/755/1/61 |arxiv=1108.4923 |bibcode=2012ApJ...755...61S |hdl=11427/34971 |issn=0004-637X}} The study of supernova rise times led to Brian Hayden's Ph.D. dissertation.Hayden, Brian T (2013). Better Understanding Type Ia Supernovae With the Goal of Making Them More Reliable Distance Indicators. University of Notre Dame. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.7274/qj72p556m8h

Charlotte M. Wood of Iowa State University{{Cite web |title=Charlotte M. Wood |url=https://www.physastro.iastate.edu/people/charlotte-wood |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Department of Physics and Astronomy |language=en}} and Benjamin Rose of Baylor University{{Cite web |title=Dr. Benjamin Rose |url=https://physics.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/ben_rose |access-date=Jun 10, 2024 |website=Baylor University Department of Physics}} earned their PhDs working under Garnavich at the University of Notre Dame in the field of supernova cosmology.{{Cite web |title=Physics Tree - Peter Garnavich Family Tree |url=https://academictree.org/physics/tree.php?pid=380173 |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=academictree.org}} Wood's dissertation concerned Type 1a supernovae in elliptical galaxies and the use of supernovae in measuring the Hubble constant.{{Cite web |title=Charlotte M. Wood CV |url=https://www.physastro.iastate.edu/people/charlotte-wood/cv.pdf |access-date=Jun 11, 2024 |website=physastro.iastate.edu}} Benjamin Rose's dissertation addressed "systematic biases of Type Ia supernova distances used in observational cosmology".

File:Gamma-Ray Burst 050525a.jpg

Garnavich and other researchers utilized the famous planet hunting Kepler Space Telescope (KST) as an instrument to measure extragalactic supernovae. After its primary planet hunting mission ended, the KST concentrated its gaze on around 500 distant galaxies and collected data every 30 minutes.{{Cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=H. Pat |last2=Johnson |first2=Michele |title=NASA's Kepler Catches Early Flash of an Exploding Star |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-kepler-catches-early-flash-of-an-exploding-star |access-date=Jun 12, 2024 |website=NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) |language=en-US}} This setup enabled the first ever capture of a Type II supernova shock wave.{{Cite journal |last1=Garnavich |first1=P. M. |last2=Tucker |first2=B. E. |last3=Rest |first3=A. |last4=Shaya |first4=E. J. |last5=Olling |first5=R. P. |last6=Kasen |first6=D. |last7=Villar |first7=A. |date=2016-03-20 |title=Shock Breakout and Early Light Curves of Type II-P Supernovae Observed with Kepler |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=820 |issue=1 |pages=23 |doi=10.3847/0004-637X/820/1/23 |doi-access=free |arxiv=1603.05657 |bibcode=2016ApJ...820...23G |issn=0004-637X}}{{Cite news |date=Mar 27, 2016 |title=Astronomers get first look at exploding star's shock wave |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/837347531/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=Richmond Times-Dispatch |pages=A15}}

Using the Large Binocular Telescope, Garnavich and Colin Littlefield's observations of cataclysmic variable stars revealed the second only known "propeller star." The first known such star, AE Aquarii, consists of a white dwarf star orbiting a red giant companion. Normally in such systems, material drawn off of the red giant's atmosphere becomes deposited onto the white dwarf. With propeller stars, the material is flung into space by the rotation of the white dwarf's magnetic field and appears as a gaseous prominence.{{Cite web |last=Sieff |first=Jessica |date=2021-06-07 |title=Scientists identify a rare magnetic propeller in a binary star system |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/scientists-identify-a-rare-magnetic-propeller-in-a-binary-star-system/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en}} This second-known propeller star is named LAMOST J024048.51+195226.9 (J0240 for short).{{Cite web |title=SIMBAD query result |url=https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=LAMOST+J024048.51+195226.9 |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=simbad.u-strasbg.fr}} Material flung from J0240 is moving at 1% of the speed of light.

Garnavich has been recognized for his instruction of student researchers. In 2012, Notre Dame law student Colin Littlefield published a paper in The Astronomical Journal{{Cite journal |last1=Littlefield |first1=Colin |last2=Garnavich |first2=Peter |last3=Marion |first3=G. H. “Howie” |last4=Vinkó |first4=József |last5=McClelland |first5=Colin |last6=Rettig |first6=Terrence |last7=Wheeler |first7=J. Craig |date=May 2012 |title=DISCOVERY OF A WOLF–RAYET STAR THROUGH DETECTION OF ITS PHOTOMETRIC VARIABILITY |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/143/6/136 |journal=The Astronomical Journal |language=en |volume=143 |issue=6 |pages=136 |doi=10.1088/0004-6256/143/6/136 |issn=1538-3881|arxiv=1111.3367 |bibcode=2012AJ....143..136L |hdl=2152/34558 }} detailing the discovery of WR 142b, a rare Wolf-Rayet star. Co-authors of the paper include Garnavich and Terrig Rettig of Notre Dame.{{Cite web |last=Goethals |first=Shelly |date=2012-05-02 |title=Notre Dame student discovers rare star |url=https://physics.nd.edu/news-events/news/notre-dame-student-discovers-rare-star/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Department of Physics and Astronomy |language=en}} In 2024, under Garnavich's tutelage, Notre Dame undergraduate McKenna Leichty discovered a potential planet within the catclysmic variable star system V808 Aurigae.{{Cite journal |last1=Leichty |first1=McKenna |last2=Garnavich |first2=Peter |last3=Littlefield |first3=Colin |last4=Schwope |first4=Axel |last5=Kurpas |first5=Jan |last6=Mason |first6=Paul A. |last7=Beuerman |first7=Klaus |date=Feb 28, 2024 |title=An Eccentric Planet Orbiting the Polar V808 Aurigae |journal=The Astrophysical Journal |volume=arXiv:2402.16959|issue=2 |page=81 |doi=10.3847/1538-4357/ad3bac |doi-access=free |arxiv=2402.16959 |bibcode=2024ApJ...967...81L }} Leichty used the 0.8-meter Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope{{Cite web |last=Gilroy |first=William G. |date=2013-09-24 |title=Notre Dame installs new telescope on Jordan Hall |url=https://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-installs-new-telescope-on-jordan-hall/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Notre Dame News |language=en}} located in an observatory on the top of Notre Dame's Jordan Hall of Science.{{Cite web |last=Schlehuber |first=Madeline |date=2024-04-22 |title=Undergraduate McKenna Leichty discovers probable planet with help from Krizmanich Telescope atop Jordan Hall |url=https://science.nd.edu/news-and-media/news/undergraduate-mckenna-leichty-discovers-probable-planet-with-help-from-krizmanich-telescope-atop-jordan-hall/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=College of Science |language=en}}

Garnavich has also participated in public astronomy outreach events sponsored by the University of Notre Dame. In 2003, Garnavich operated Notre Dame's historic Napoleon III Telescope to provide views of the planet Mars during its historic close opposition.{{Cite news |last=Rumbach |first=David |date=Aug 21, 2003 |title=Celestial birth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511567743/ |access-date=Jun 11, 2024 |work=South Bend Tribune |pages=A1}}{{Cite web |date=Aug 27, 2003 |title=Mars: Closest Encounter |url=https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2003/news-2003-22.html |access-date=Jun 11, 2024 |website=NASA Hubblesite}} Garnavich provided a public lecture titled "Big Science: The Largest Telescope on Earth and in Space" at the Jordan Hall of Science on Oct 28, 2014. Telescope viewing on the roof of Jordan Hall was also scheduled for this event.{{Cite news |date=Oct 26, 2014 |title=At the podium |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/511656187/ |work=South Bend Tribune |pages=A10}}

In 1992, at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Garnavich obtained a Plaskett Fellowship{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=National Research Council |date=2019-03-21 |title=Plaskett Fellowship |url=https://nrc.canada.ca/en/corporate/careers/plaskett-fellowship |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=nrc.canada.ca}} which is granted to recent outstanding doctoral graduates in astrophysics.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=National Research Council |date=2019-03-21 |title=Plaskett Fellows, 1975 to present |url=https://nrc.canada.ca/en/corporate/careers/plaskett-fellows-1975-present |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=nrc.canada.ca}}

Garnavich is a member of the American Physical Society (APS).{{Cite web |last=Dame |first=Marketing Communications: Web {{!}} University of Notre |title=Peter Garnavich |url=https://physics.nd.edu/people/peter-garnavich/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=Department of Physics and Astronomy |language=en}}

For his work with the High-Z Supernova Search Team, Garnavich was awarded the Gruber Prize in Cosmology (2007) and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics (2015).

Garnavich was cited in a widely circulated{{Cite news |last=Brachear |first=Mayna A. |date=Jul 4, 2011 |title=For some, earth at center of it all |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/232953913/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=Chicago Tribune |pages=10}} newspaper article concerning a conference named "Galileo Was Wrong, The Church Was Right" held adjacent to the University of Notre Dame in 2011. The conference organizers were a "small group of conservative Roman Catholics" who cited some Bible verses and the Church's original teachings claiming that they support the geocentric or earth-centered universe model. Garnavich was quoted as an astrophysicist at "America's flagship Catholic university" who didn't agree with the conference. According to Garnavich, geocentrism is "an idea whose time has come and gone" and "there are some people who want to move the world back to the 1950s when it seemed like a better time... these are people who want to move the world back to the 1250s... I don't really understand it at all."{{Cite news |last=Brachear |first=Mayna A. |date=Jul 16, 2011 |title=Galileo was wrong, obscure group claims |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/426522044/ |access-date=Jun 14, 2024 |work=The Gazette (Montreal) |pages=92}}

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) elected Garnavich as a physics fellow in 2012.{{Cite web |date=Nov 30, 2012 |title=AAAS Members Elected as Fellows |url=https://www.aaas.org/news/aaas-members-elected-fellows-1 |access-date=Jun 4, 2024 |website=aaas.org}}

Garnavich has helped the Space Telescope Science Institute to implement the "Working Group for Anonymizing Proposal Reviews" to increase the number of women and younger researchers who have been granted time to use the Hubble Space Telescope. For this work, Garnavich was awarded the a NASA Silver Achievement Award in 2020.{{Cite web |last=McCool |first=Deanna Csomo |date=2020-10-30 |title=Garnavich receives NASA award for work on anonymous proposal team |url=https://science.nd.edu/news-and-media/news/garnavich-receives-nasa-award-for-work-on-anonymous-proposal-team/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=College of Science |language=en}}

In 2024, Garnavich was named a fellow of the American Astronomical Society. Along with research in supernovae, gamma ray bursts, and cataclysmic variable stars, he was also recognized for his "leadership in observational collaborations" and "tireless devotion to students and the astronomical community."

Discovered in 1997, asteroid 1997 SJ34 was named 31139 Garnavich in honor of Peter Garnavich. The name was suggested by Czech amateur astronomer K. Hornoch. 31139 Garnavich is a 1.9 km wide main-belt asteroid.{{Cite web |title=Small-Body Database Lookup |url=https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20031139&view= |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=ssd.jpl.nasa.gov}}

Napoleon III Telescope (University of Notre Dame)

Sarah L. Krizmanich Telescope

List of exoplanets discovered in 2024

[https://physics.nd.edu/ Notre Dame Department of Physics and Astronomy]

[https://physics.nd.edu/people/peter-garnavich/ Notre Dame Department of Physics and Astronomy: Peter Garnavich]

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