Latest News

An image of Dr Rebecca Smethurst, aka Dr Becky, on a backdrop of a composite image of different nebulae and galaxies.
Beating the system: engaging the “unreachable” on social media
Social media platforms are a ubiquitous communication tool, with nearly two billion people using Facebook every day, for example. But these platforms curate their offer, with neural networks using algorithms to recommend content to their users, using...
A bright, white light in the middle of the image surrounded by red hued filament structures and clouds.
Rewinding a supernova with machine learning
New work looks at using machine learning to decipher the early stages of supernovae explosions by reconstructing the light emitted during the outburst. The research was presented today at the 2022 National Astronomy Meeting by Eleonora Parrag, a PhD...
Orange hued nebulous clouds of dust and gas against a blue starry backdrop.
Royal Astronomical Society congratulates JWST team on new images
Astronomers at the 2022 National Astronomy Meeting today celebrated the release of new images and data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), following the release of the very first image from the telescope by President Biden on 11 July...
A large number of galaxies of different colours, shapes and sizes against the black backdrop of space. Galaxies in the middle of the image appear distorted due to gravitational lensing.
A message from the past: UK astronomers comment on the first JWST image
The first image from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was revealed last night (11 July) by US president, Joe Biden. The image, of a galaxy cluster called SMACS 0723, showcases the faint, intricate structures of extremely distant galaxies in the...
Image shows the Milky Way distorted by a large circular object that is a black hole.
Black Hole Hunters – A citizen science search for black hole self-lensing
A research team from the Open University and the University of Southampton is asking for the public’s help to find some of the most mysterious, elusive objects in the Universe – black holes. By examining data from the SuperWASP survey, the UK's...
Artist's impression shows a blue and white ocean covered planet with 2 small grey moons.
The life puzzle: the location of land on a planet can affect its habitability
New climate models have found that the amount and location of land on a planet’s surface can significantly impact its habitability. Astronomers have identified substantial differences in surface temperature, sea ice and water vapour across a planet’s...
The artist's impression shows a blue and white hued pulsar in the background and a large dark planet in the foreground.
Undead planets: the unusual conditions of the first exoplanet detection
The first ever exoplanets were discovered 30 years ago around a rapidly rotating star, called a pulsar. Now, astronomers have revealed that these planets may be incredibly rare. The new work will be presented tomorrow (Tuesday 12 July) at the...
The RAS logo and text reading "Caroline Herschel Prize Lectureship 2022 winner announced"
2022 Caroline Herschel Prize Lectureship winner announced
Dr Amon is an expert in cosmology. She is a Senior Kavli Fellow at the Institute for Cosmology and a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. Before this, she was a Fellow at Stanford University and the SLAC...
The NAM 2022 logo overlaid on an image of the Milky Way. Text reads "NAM 2022 at the University of Warwick. 11th - 15th July."
National Astronomy Meeting 2022: first media announcement
Journalists are warmly invited to attend the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2022), to take place at the University of Warwick from 11-15 July. We are delighted to announce that the UK’s largest regular gathering of...
4 different sky maps overlaid on a black background with the ESA, DPAC and Gaia logos in the top right, top left and bottom right corners respectively.
New Gaia data reveals secrets of the Universe
Today, ESA’s Gaia mission released its new treasure trove of data about our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Astronomers describe stellar DNA, asymmetric motions, strange ‘starquakes’, and other fascinating insights in this most detailed survey of our...
A medal designating the award of Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The medal has a red ribbon, a metal crown and four blue arms around two figures with crowns on a central disc.
RAS Fellows recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Dr Megan Argo and Professor Stephen Smartt FRS, both Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society, are to receive national honours. Professor Smartt, of Queen’s University Belfast, is made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE...
Front cover of RAS Techniques and Instruments
RAS Techniques and Instruments Editorial Volume 1, Issue 1
Co-authored by Editor-in-Chief, Jonathan Tennyson and Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Anna Scaife, the inaugural editorial in our new open access journal RAS Techniques and Instruments was published on 25th May 2022. The editorial outlines the journal's...