Announcements

Image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory mission of the solar disk with multiple sunspots, which appear dark compared with their surroundings. Credit: HMI/SDO/NASA
Solar activity likely to peak next year, new study suggests
Researchers at the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India at IISER Kolkata have discovered a new relationship between the Sun’s magnetic field and its sunspot cycle, that can help predict when the peak in solar activity will occur. Their work i…
Artist's impression of the Cassini spacecraft near to Saturn..JPG
Using eclipses to calculate the transparency of Saturn’s rings
A Lancaster University PhD student has measured the optical depth of Saturn’s rings using a new method based on how much sunlight reached the Cassini spacecraft while it was in the shadow of the rings. The optical depth is connected to the transparen…
RAS new logo
RAS Council 2024 nominations are now open!
Fellows of the RAS are invited to put themselves forward to run for election to the Society's governing Council, our board of trustees. You can now submit nominations for candidates, or consider having yourself nominated for the Council positions. S…
Professor John Zarnecki (right) receiving the Sir Arthur Clarke Award for Lifetime Achievement
Seven RAS Fellows win awards
The Royal Astronomical Society is delighted that seven Fellows of the Society have won prizes and medals, courtesy of the Sir Arthur Clarke awards (the Arthurs) and the Institute of Physics awards. Winners of the 2023 Sir Arthur Clarke Awards: Life…
Background image of simulation of present-day matter from FLAMINGO simulation, with three insets showing detail.
Astronomers carry out largest ever cosmological computer simulation
An international team of astronomers has carried out what is believed to be the largest ever cosmological computer simulation, tracking not only dark but also ordinary matter (such as planets, stars and galaxies), giving us a glimpse into how our Uni…
Portrait of Bradley Lewis holding his degree certificate
Bradley Lewis wins Patricia Tompkins Undergraduate Prize
The Royal Astronomical Society is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2023 Patricia Tomkins Undergraduate Prize is Bradley Lewis of the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University. Bradley won the £500 prize for his exc…
Artist's concept of the LiteBIRD mission in space
RAS welcomes UK joining LiteBIRD mission
The Royal Astronomical Society welcomes the UK Government decision to join the Japanese-led LiteBIRD mission, which will analyse the residual radiation from the Big Bang to determine whether the current model for the expansion of the Universe is corr…
RAS welcomes UK association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) welcomes today’s announcement of a deal to secure UK association to Horizon Europe, the €95.5 bn (£82 bn) European Union scientific research initiative, and to enable full UK access to data from the Copernicus Ear…
Lord Rees of Ludlow
Lord Rees and Professor Michele Dougherty win Royal Society medals
The Royal Astronomical Society congratulates Lord Rees of Ludlow, who has been awarded the Royal Society Copley Medal, and Professor Michele Dougherty of Imperial College London, who has won the Bakerian Medal and Lecture. The Copley Medal was first…
Lancaster University interns win poster presentation for EDI summer project
Evie, Emily and Megan stand in front of their prize winning poster. Jim Wild Licence type None (RAS Media) Diversity officer, Sheila Kanani,…
Garry Hunt
RAS Fellows Garry Hunt and Guy Hurst receive national honours
Two Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society received awards in the first Birthday Honours announced by King Charles III. Professor Garry Hunt is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Space Science and Busines…
Professor Nick Kaiser
Professor Nick Kaiser, 1954-2023
The Royal Astronomical Society would like to express its deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of cosmologist Professor Nicholas (Nick) Kaiser, who has died at the age of 68. Kaiser began his study of astronomy at the University of…