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The bicentenary patchwork quilt laid out on a table, with a women working on stitching it together. It features embroidered squares depicting galaxies, planets and other celestial objects.
RAS Bicentennial Quilt Update
Finally, three and a half years after starting the RAS bicentennial quilt project, we're delighted to announce the completion of the patchwork quilt! Since the last update: The 100 patchwork squares were stitched together to form the top of the quilt...
An image of a black ballot against a red background.
RAS Council Election Results 2023
The results of the 2023 council elections were announced at the 203rd AGM of the Royal Astronomical Society. Professor Mike Lockwood FRS is our new President-elect, and will begin his two year term as President in May 2024. He holds a chair in space...
An artist's impression of a black hole accretion shows a large yellow disc shaped formation with a small black circle at the centre. The disc appears to be sucking in blue light that emanates from a blue sphere in the bottom left corner of the image.
Astronomers reveal the largest cosmic explosion ever seen
A team of astronomers led by researchers at the University of Southampton has uncovered the largest cosmic explosion ever witnessed. The explosion is more than ten times brighter than any known supernova. The research is published in Monthly Notices...
RAS new logo
Science Minister replies to RAS President about Horizon Europe funding
George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation has replied to the RAS President Prof. Mike Edmunds regarding the surrender of £1.6 billion previously allocated for association to the EU Horizon Europe programme. In February...
An artist's impression of a disc shaped cloud of dust around a black hole. Two jets coming from either side of the disc appear bright blue and extend towards the outside of the image.
Hidden supermassive black holes brought to life by galaxies on collision course
Astronomers have found that supermassive black holes obscured by dust are more likely to grow and release tremendous amounts of energy when they are inside galaxies that are expected to collide with a neighbouring galaxy. The new work, led by...
A black and white portrait of Professor Sir Francis Graham Smith. He rests his chin on his hand and smiles at the camera. He is wearing glasses, a shirt, tie and blazer.
Professor Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS celebrates hundredth birthday
The pioneering radio astronomer Professor Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS celebrates his hundredth birthday this week on 25 April. His presidency of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1975 to 1977 coincided with the tercentenary of Royal Observatory...
Image of the Bubble Nebula overlaid with the RAS logo in the top right corner and text in the centre reading "GCSE Poster Competition 2023 Winners Announced!"
RAS GCSE Poster Competition winners announced
The RAS GCSE Competition, sponsored by Winton, provides a chance for students studying GCSE Astronomy to showcase their astronomy knowledge. Students were invited to present an astronomy topic of their choice as an academic style poster for a chance...
Professor Richard Ellis
Professor Richard Ellis wins Gruber Prize for Cosmology
The 2023 Gruber Prize in Cosmology recognises the outstanding work of Professor Richard Ellis CBE in studying the evolution of galaxies and the universe from early in its history, and designing the instruments to make this possible. The Prize is...
Ambassador Miguel Berger and Professor Gillian Wright stand side by side. Prof. Wright is holding a small box containing the medal and a certificate.
Professor Gillian Wright awarded Caroline Herschel Medal
Professor Gillian Wright CBE was awarded the 2023 Caroline Herschel Medal in a ceremony that took place on Thursday 13 April 2023 at the residence of the German Ambassador to the United Kingdom. In attendance were representatives from the German...
Patrick Poitevin looking through a telescope eyepiece
Prime Minister awards Derbyshire astronomer Points of Light award
An astronomer from Derbyshire who set up a charity with his late wife to donate astronomy kits for children with special educational needs has received Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s daily Points of Light award. Patrick Poitevin and his late wife...
An image of the Milky Way warped around a small black circle at the centre of the image.
Light-bending gravity reveals one of the biggest black holes ever found
A team of astronomers have discovered one of the biggest black holes ever found, taking advantage of a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. The findings are published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The team, led by Durham...
The artist's impression shows a large, grey rocky body in outer space with a bright yellow-white star in the background. Faint stars are also seen in the background.
Redness of Neptunian asteroids sheds light on early Solar System
Asteroids sharing their orbits with the planet Neptune have been observed to exist in a broad spectrum of red colour, implying the existence of two populations of asteroids in the region, according to a new study by an international team of...