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Three pairs of formation-flying coronagraphs make up the SULIS mission. With three viewpoints SULIS will reconstruct the 3D properties of coronal mass ejections from the Sun that cause space weather impacts on Earth. Credit: Dr Eamon Scullion Northumbria
Details of UK-led solar science mission revealed at National Astronomy Meeting
Named after a Celtic goddess of the Sun, SULIS is a UK-led solar science mission, designed to answer fundamental questions about the physics of solar storms. The mission consists of a cluster of small satellites and will carefully monitor solar...
Image credit: Royal Astronomical Society
3D Holograms Bringing Astronomy to Life
Scientists working on unravelling the mysteries of star cluster formation have found an innovative way of sharing their work with the general public. Taking inspiration from a 19th century magic trick, researchers from the University of Leeds have...
A model showing light (red/yellow) penetrating the surface of the human breast (white triangles). Credit: T. Harries
Astronomers help wage war on cancer
Techniques developed by astronomers could help in the fight against breast and skin cancer. Charlie Jeynes at the University of Exeter will present his and Prof Tim Harries team’s work today (3 July) at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2019)...
Image showing the galaxy cluster Abell1689. Credit: NASA/ESA
Deep-CEE: The AI deep learning tool helping astronomers explore deep space
Galaxy clusters are some of the most massive structures in the cosmos, but despite being millions of lightyears across, they can still be hard to spot. Researchers at Lancaster University have turned to artificial intelligence for assistance...
Member of Basingstoke Astronomical Society has his eyes on the sky. Credit: Dstl
Collision Course: Amateur Astronomers Play a Part in Efforts to Keep Space Safe
Heavy traffic is commonplace on Earth but now congestion is becoming an increasing problem in space. With over 22,000 artificial satellites in orbit it is essential to keep track of their positions in order to avoid unexpected collisions. Amateur...
Example images showing three example CMEs in ranked order of subjective complexity increasing from low (left-hand image) through to high (right-hand image). Credit: NASA Heliospheric Imager data courtesy of RAL Space, made available by the UK Solar System
Citizen scientists discover cyclical pattern of complexity in solar storms
Citizen scientists have discovered that solar storms become more complex as the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle reaches its maximum – a finding which could help forecasters predict which space weather events could have potentially devastating...
Van Allen belts
Space Weather causes years of radiation damage to satellites using electric propulsion
The use of electric propulsion for raising satellites into geostationary orbit can result in significant solar cell degradation according to a new study. The extended journey time results in greater exposure to the damaging effects of space weather...
Eimear Gallagher at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Winner of the Patricia Tomkins Undergraduate Prize 2019
Congratulations to Eimear Gallagher who has been awarded The Patricia Tomkins Undergraduate Prize 2019. Eimear is studying Physics with Astrophysics at Nottingham Trent University and is currently on an industrial placement year at the Rutherford...
Books on the shelf in the RAS library
Winners of the 2018 RAS thesis prizes
The RAS is pleased to announce the winners of its prizes for the best Ph.D. theses completed in the UK during 2018. Prizes are awarded annually: the Michael Penston Prize for the best thesis in astronomy and astrophysics, the Keith Runcorn Prize for...
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Citizen scientists re-tune Hubble’s galaxy classification
Hundreds of thousands of volunteers have helped to overturn almost a century of galaxy classification, in a new study using data from the longstanding Galaxy Zoo project. The new investigation, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal...
Professor David Southwood awarded CBE
Professor David Southwood, President of the Royal Astronomical Society from 2012-14, has been made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. He receives the CBE for services to space...
Lancaster rooftops
NAM 2019: Second media announcement
Around 500 astronomers and space scientists will gather at Lancaster University, from 30 June – 4 July, for the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting 2019 (NAM 2019). The conference is the largest annual astronomy and space science...