Latest News

Easter Closure 2025
The Royal Astronomical Society will be closed on Friday 18 th April and will re-open on Wednesday 23 rd April for Easter.
Video: How and when to see Lyrid meteor shower
Stargazers will have a chance to enjoy one of the oldest known meteor showers over the next week, as the Lyrids bring their fast and bright 'shooting stars' to the night sky. Although not as plentiful as the Perseids in August or Geminids in December...
A composite image of the RAS Bicentennial Quilt (left), a patch from the quilt depicting the Lovell Telescope (top right), its companion quilt (inset), a homage to astronomer Ellen Baker’s spectacular 1876 Solar System quilt, and a photo of two children in personalised hand-crafted Martian spacesuits, which will also be on display at Jodrell Bank's ‘A Stitch in Space Time’ summer exhibition.
RAS Bicentennial Quilts to go on display at Jodrell Bank
The Royal Astronomical Society has teamed up with Jodrell Bank to invite the public to step into a tapestry of scientific discoveries with the Society's Bicentennial Quilt at its heart. 'A Stitch in Space Time', a brand-new summer exhibition from...
The final SPIRE Dark Field image map created by combining the Blue (250 micrometres), Green (350 micrometres) and Red (500 micrometres) SPIRE camera channels together, each channel stacking a total of 141 individual images on top of each other.
'Hidden galaxies' could be smoking gun in universe riddle
Astronomers have peered back in time to find what looks like a population of 'hidden' galaxies that could hold the key to unlocking some of the universe's secrets. If their existence is confirmed it would "effectively break current models of galaxy...
Dr Vishnu Varma
Computational astrophysicist awarded RAS Research Fellowship
A computational astrophysicist specialising in 3D simulations to explore the role of magnetic fields related to supernovae has been awarded an RAS Research Fellowship. Dr Vishnu Varma, a postdoctoral Research Associate at Keele University, said he...
Video: How and when to see partial solar eclipse from UK
People across the UK will be treated to the captivating sight of a partial solar eclipse on Saturday 29 March 2025. The Moon will pass across the disc of the Sun during a two-hour period, beginning shortly after 10am GMT and ending at about 12 noon...
The giant radio jets stretching six million light-years across and an enormous supermassive black hole at the heart of spiral galaxy J23453268−0449256, as imaged by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope.
Cosmic anomaly hints at frightening future for Milky Way
A terrifying glimpse at one potential fate of our Milky Way galaxy has come to light thanks to the discovery of a cosmic anomaly that challenges our understanding of the universe. An international team of astronomers led by CHRIST University...
This image shows examples of gravitational lenses that Euclid captured in its first observations of the Deep Field areas.
UK science uncovers mysteries of dark universe with Euclid data
Cutting-edge UK research is benefiting the European Space Agency’s Euclid mission, with new data released today (19 March) set to uncover the secrets of dark energy and matter. The wealth of new data from the mission – described as the ultimate...
From left to right, Professor Dr Michael Kramer, former President of the German Astronomical Society, Professor Isobel Hook, Lancaster University, Professor Mike Lockwood, President of the Royal Astronomical Society, and Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the UK.
Supernovae 'pioneer' receives Caroline Herschel Medal
The 2025 Caroline Herschel Medal winner Professor Isobel Hook received her award at a special ceremony at the German Embassy in London last week. Described as a "pioneering" leader in the study of distant supernovae, the Lancaster University...
Lunar eclipse: Pictures and video as it happened
Skywatchers across the UK captured this morning's beautiful lunar eclipse in stunning detail in a series of pictures and video. A timelapse clip recorded the moment the pre-dawn spectacle began shortly before 04:00 GMT on Friday 14 March 2025. It...
Ian Russell
RAS appoints new Executive Director
The Royal Astronomical Society is delighted to announce Ian Russell as its next Executive Director. Following an extensive recruitment process, Mr Russell will begin the role on 1 May 2025. He will succeed the retiring Philip Diamond, who has led the...
New research suggests at least two mass extinction events in Earth's history were caused by a nearby supernova. Pictured is an example of one of these stellar explosions, Supernova 1987a (centre), within a neighbouring galaxy to our Milky Way called the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Violent supernovae 'triggered at least two Earth extinctions'
At least two mass extinction events in Earth's history were likely caused by the "devastating" effects of nearby supernova explosions, a new study suggests. Researchers at Keele University say these super-powerful blasts – caused by the death of a...