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Promotional graphic for the 2027 Royal Astronomical Society Awards.
RAS Awards 2027: Nominations now open
Nominations are now being welcomed for the Royal Astronomical Society's 2027 Awards. Among them is the prestigious Gold Medal – the Society’s highest honour – which dates back more than 200 years and has previously been won by influential scientists...
This artist's impression shows two Earth-sized worlds passing in front of their parent red dwarf star in the TRAPPIST-1 system 40 light-years away.
Red dwarf stars detected 'eating' Earth-like planets
Astronomers have found some of the strongest evidence yet that stars can swallow their own planets. A new study, published in Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society, supports the long-held belief that young stars are capable of 'eating' nearby...
A split image showing an active Sun during solar maximum (on the left, taken in 2014) and a quiet Sun during solar minimum (on the right, taken in 2019).
Listening to Sun’s 'heart' hints our star could be changing
The Sun's internal 'biorhythm' – which plays a critical role in the space weather we experience on Earth – has mysteriously changed over the past 40 years, a new study suggests. Listening to tiny sound waves inside our star's 'heart' led researchers...
Professor Dr Heike Rauer receives the 2026 Caroline Herschel Medal at a ceremony at the British Embassy in Berlin.
2026 Caroline Herschel Medal presented to exoplanet scientist in Berlin
The 2026 Caroline Herschel Medal was awarded to Professor Dr Heike Rauer at a ceremony at the British Embassy in Berlin last month. Professor Rauer was recognised for her exceptional service to the astronomical community, her outstanding...
Clockwise, from top left, Dr Olivia Keenan, Professor Peter Gallagher, Professor Jorick Vink, Dr Andy Nowacki, Dr Emma Woodfield and Professor David Alexander were all elected as councillors following the Royal Astronomical Society’s AGM on Friday 8 May. nset, Dr Sheona Urquhart, of The Open University, was re-elected as a Secretary for a five-year term.
Six new trustees elected to RAS Council
This year's Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) election saw six new trustees appointed to Council, including two vice presidents. Dr Olivia Keenan, Professor David Alexander, Dr Emma Woodfield and Professor Peter Gallagher were all elected as...
New RAS President demands impact assessment of proposed astronomy cuts
The new President of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has urged the Government to carry out a full impact assessment of its proposed budget cuts to astronomy before ploughing ahead with the much-maligned plans. In a joint letter to science...
WATCH: New film explores how Rum became UK’s second Dark Sky Sanctuary
A captivating film revealing the journey of how the Isle of Rum became the first place in Scotland to achieve Dark Sky Sanctuary status is now available to watch. Rum's Dazzling Dark Skies, funded by a grant from the Royal Astronomical Society...
Audience members at the RAS conference on light pollution in 2025.
Artificial light a 'pollutant' to humans, nature and astronomy
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is demanding urgent action to address the damage light pollution is doing to astronomy, human health, biodiversity and the natural environment. It follows an influential conference on the issue hosted by the RAS...
Professor Jim Wild
New President of the Royal Astronomical Society
Professor Jim Wild, a space physicist whose research focuses on the links between the Sun, Earth and other planets, has become the new president of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). He succeeds Professor Mike Lockwood, of the University of...
More than 250 physics teachers sign letter opposing budget cuts
An open letter from UK physics teachers opposing budget cuts proposed by the Government has now received more than 250 signatures. The Royal Astronomical Society has been encouraging teachers to put their names to the letter in response to plans...
(A) A dark matter map in our neighbourhood of the universe. The two large densities are dark matter halos of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxy; (B) Zoomed-in on the dark matter map, showing a small dark matter clump ~700 million years after the Big Bang; (C-1 and C-2) stars and gas in the simulated ultra-faint dwarf galaxy, formed in the centre of the small dark matter halo in panel B. The two panels show two different radiation levels shortly after the Big Bang. It reveals how the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy
Milky Way's 'little cousins' may hold clues about infant universe
Ultra-faint dwarf galaxies – tiny satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way – have long been seen as cosmic fossils. Now, a new study published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society uses an unprecedented set of simulations to...
RAS Fellows Professor Gillian Wright CBE (left), Dr Graeme McGhee (right) and Professor Rashid Sunyaev (inset) have been recognised in this year’s European Astronomical Society prizes.
European Astronomical Society awards prizes to trio of RAS Fellows
Three Royal Astronomical Society Fellows, including a former winner of the Caroline Herschel Medal, have been recognised in this year's European Astronomical Society (EAS) prizes. Professor Gillian Wright CBE, of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in...