Announcements

Graphic promoting the RAS Awards 2026 with the Society's medals in front of a background image of the Cartwheel galaxy from JWST and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
RAS Awards 2026: Deadline for nominations extended
Due to technical issues with our website, we understand that some people may have experienced difficulties submitting nominations for our 2026 RAS Awards. To ensure everyone has a fair opportunity, we are reopening the awards round until Wednesday,…
Professor Michele Dougherty
Michele Dougherty becomes first female Astronomer Royal
The Royal Astronomical Society is pleased to congratulate Professor Michele Dougherty CBE FRS FRAS on her appointment as Astronomer Royal. The Society has a strong working relationship with Professor Dougherty in her position as Executive Chair of t…
Last chance to nominate for 2026 RAS Awards
Time is running out to submit nominations for the Royal Astronomical Society's 2026 Awards. There is now less than a week to go before the deadline closes for most awards – 31 July 2025 – although the Education and Outreach Awards have a later…
The winners of the MNRAS Student Prize 2025 are, clockwise from top left, Konstantinos Kilmetis, Natasha Van Bemmel, Ignas Juodžbalis, Jesús Carrillo-Santamaría, Hanyuan Zhang and Dávid Puskás.
MNRAS Student Prize Winners 2025
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 MNRAS Student Prize. The annual award recognis…
RAS reopens Burlington House HQ
The Royal Astronomical Society is pleased to welcome back staff, Fellows and members of the public to its offices at Burlington House. A power outage in the surrounding area had temporarily forced the closure of the offices last week. We apologise a…
A black and white portrait of Professor Sir Francis Graham Smith. He rests his chin on his hand and smiles at the camera. He is wearing glasses, a shirt, tie and blazer.
Sir Francis Graham-Smith, 1923–2025
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is saddened to learn of the passing of pioneering radio astronomer Sir Francis Graham-Smith, who has died aged 102.…
Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (left) has been appointed a Companion of Honour for services to astronomy and physics and to diversity. Three other RAS Fellows including Dennis Ashton (top right) Professor Lyndsay Fletcher and Professor Raman Prinja (bottom right) were also recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.
Ex-RAS president among four Fellows in King's Birthday Honours
Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, a former president of the Royal Astronomical Society, is among four Fellows recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours. She has been appointed a Companion of Honour (CH) – a special distinction limited to…
Graphic promoting the RAS Awards 2026 with the Society's medals in front of a background image of the Cartwheel galaxy from JWST and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.
RAS Awards 2026: Nominations now open
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society is now welcoming nominations for its 2026 Awards. Among them is the prestigious Gold Medal – the Society’s highest honour…
RAS voices concern over threats to US academic freedom
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society has endorsed a statement highlighting "grave" concerns about threats to academic freedom and international research collabo…
Professor Karl Menten
Professor Dr Karl Martin Menten, 1957-2024
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) offers its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Professor Dr Karl Martin Menten, who has died…
The two prize winners.
GJI Student Paper Award Winners 2024
drupal-media[data-view-mode=half_page_width] { display: inline-block; width: 50%; } Geophysical Journal International (GJI) is delighted to announce the two winners of the 2024 Student Paper Award. They are Théo Santos for his first autho…
MNRAS Student Prize information
MNRAS Student Prize
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) is delighted to announce a new annual student prize for the best paper published in the journal by a student scientist. The winner will receive a cash prize and a certificate of recogni…