Fast-moving gas flowing away from young star's asteroid belt may be caused by icy comet vaporisation

Press release November 2020

A unique stage of planetary system evolution has been imaged by astronomers, showing fast-moving gas flowing away from a star system over 400 light years away. Read more...

First joint measurement of exoplanet’s mass and brightness challenges classical model of planet formation

Press release 2 October 2020

A team of astronomers have used the ESO instrument GRAVITY to take the first image of an exoplanet that had previously only been detected indirectly via the spectrum of its star. Read more...

Possible Marker of Life Spotted on Venus

Press release 14 September 2020

An international team of astronomers today announced the discovery of a rare molecule — phosphine — in the clouds of Venus, which could indicate the presence of extra-terrestrial life. Read more...

Anti-racism resources

Equality and Diversity at the IoA

We at the Institute of Astronomy encourage everyone to educate themselves on issues of racial inequality. Anti-racism resources are available on our Equality and Diversity webpage. Read more...

2020 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics awarded to Andrew Fabian

Press release 27 May 2020

The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters have announced that IoA astronomer Professor Andrew Fabian has been awarded the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. Read more...

Astronomers find cosmic `golden needle' buried for two decades

Press release 1 June 2020

Discovery sheds new light on famous Einstein ring Read more...

Prof. Martin J. Rees awarded Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology

Press release March 2020

The Inaugural Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology is awarded to Prof. Martin J. Rees (University of Cambridge, United Kingdom) for outstanding contributions to astrophysics and cosmology. Read more...

Astronomy News

Upcoming Talks at the IoA

Thursday 03 December 2020

Anna Watts (Amsterdam)

A NICER view of neutron stars

Time: 16:00-17:00 [details]

Friday 04 December 2020

John Regan (Maynooth)

Rapidly Forming Haloes as a Route to Massive Black Holes

Time: 11:30-12:30 [details]

Wednesday 09 December 2020

Josh Lovell

The evolution of young planetary systems in Lupus: Early planetesimal belt formation, rapid disc dispersal, and fast gas outflows

Time: 13:30-14:00 [details]

Friday 11 December 2020

Frederick Davies (MPIA Heidelberg)

Title to be confirmed