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Photograph of Dr Anna Lisa Varri. Winner of the 2019 Caroline Herschel Lectureship Prize
Winner of 2019 Caroline Herschel Prize Lectureship announced
The winner of the 2019 Caroline Herschel Prize Lectureship is Dr Anna Lisa Varri. Dr Varri (UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at the School of Physics and Astronomy and School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh) is an outstanding researcher who works...
ESO night sky above La Silla observatory in Chile
RAS statement on Starlink satellite constellation
The Royal Astronomical Society notes with concern the launch of the new SpaceX Starlink constellation of satellites into low-Earth orbit, and the potential impact of this and other programmes on views of the night sky and on astronomical research...
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First ever solar eclipse film brought back to life
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World celebrates centenary of confirmation of relativity
Celebrations are underway across the globe to commemorate 100 years since a UK-led expedition confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The theory fundamentally changed our understanding of physics and astronomy, and underpins critical...
Logo for the RAS National Astronomy Meeting 2019
NAM 2019: First 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...
Election results 2019: new RAS Council
The results of the 2019 RAS elections were announced at the Annual General Meeting of the Society on Friday 10 May. The following Fellows were elected to serve on Council, the governing body of the Society: President Elect: Emma Bunce The President...
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Small, hardy planets most likely to survive death of their stars
Small, hardy planets packed with dense elements have the best chance of avoiding being crushed and swallowed up when their host star dies, new research from the University of Warwick has found. The new research is published in the journal Monthly...
Small ancient galaxy simulation
New clues about how ancient galaxies lit up the Universe
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed that some of the Universe's earliest galaxies were brighter than expected. The excess light is a by-product of the galaxies releasing incredibly high amounts of ionising radiation. The finding offers clues...
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The space rock that hit the Moon at 61,000 kilometres an hour
Observers watching January’s total eclipse of the Moon saw a rare event, a short-lived flash as a meteorite hit the lunar surface. Spanish astronomers now think the space rock collided with the Moon at 61,000 kilometres an hour, excavating a crater...
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Massive superflare observed on Jupiter-sized star
A stellar flare ten times more powerful than anything seen on our sun has burst from an ultracool star almost the same size as Jupiter. The star is the coolest and smallest to give off a rare white-light superflare, and by some definitions could be...
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Astronomers capture first ever direct image of a black hole
An international team of astronomers have produced the first ever direct image of a black hole, providing another stunning confirmation of Einstein’s famous theory of general relativity. The image is the result of a seven-year project by the Event...
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Chances for life expand when passing stars push binaries together
Planetary systems can be harsh environments in their early history. The young worlds orbit suns in stellar nurseries, clusters of stars where violent encounters are commonplace. None of this makes it easy for life to get going, but now astronomers at...