Announcements

Duncan Lorimer FRAS, Professor and Interim Chair of Physics and Astronomy and Associate Dean for Research at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University is a joint recipient of the 2023 Shaw Prize in Astronomy, awarded for the dis…

Astronet is a network of European funding agencies and research organisations, working together on international strategic planning for astronomy. The network has now published a roadmap for European astronomy from 2022-2035. Teams of leading astron…

The RAS offers its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Professor Brian Warner, who has died at the age of 83. He was one of the most distinguished astronomers in South Africa, and his name is synonymous with astronomy at the Univers…

The Royal Astronomical Society is sorry to hear of the recent death of leading light pollution campaigner Bob Mizon. A talented amateur astronomer, he helped to establish the Commission for Dark Skies and his work received global recognition. Mizon…

Finally, three and a half years after starting the RAS bicentennial quilt project, we're delighted to announce the completion of the patchwork quilt!  Since the last update: The 100 patchwork squares were stitched together to form the top of the…

The results of the 2023 council elections were announced at the 203rd AGM of the Royal Astronomical Society. Professor Mike Lockwood FRS is our new President-elect, and will begin his two year term as President in May 2024. He holds a chair in space…

George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation has replied to the RAS President Prof. Mike Edmunds regarding the surrender of £1.6 billion previously allocated for association to the EU Horizon Europe programme. In Februar…

The RAS GCSE Competition, sponsored by Winton, provides a chance for students studying GCSE Astronomy to showcase their astronomy knowledge. Students were invited to present an astronomy topic of their choice as an academic style poster for a chance…

The 2023 Gruber Prize in Cosmology recognises the outstanding work of Professor Richard Ellis CBE in studying the evolution of galaxies and the universe from early in its history, and designing the instruments to make this possible. The Prize is awa…

Professor Gillian Wright CBE was awarded the 2023 Caroline Herschel Medal in a ceremony that took place on Thursday 13 April 2023 at the residence of the German Ambassador to the United Kingdom. In attendance were representatives from the German Astr…

An astronomer from Derbyshire who set up a charity with his late wife to donate astronomy kits for children with special educational needs has received Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award. Patrick Poitevin and his late wife Joan…

The Société Astronomique de France (the French Astronomical Society – SAF) has awarded its prestigious international astronomy prize – the Jules Janssen Prize – to Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, a former President of the Royal Astronomical Soci…