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Read more at: Professor Hiranya Peiris elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Professor Hiranya Peiris elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

27 April 2026

The Institute of Astronomy is pleased to congratulate Professor Hiranya Peiris on her election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest and most prestigious learned societies in the United States. Induction ceremonies for the 2026 class will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October 2026...

Read more at: Cheops discovers late bloomer from another era

Cheops discovers late bloomer from another era

13 February 2026

In brief Scientists -- including IoA astronomer Dr Nic Walton -- used the European Space Agency's Cheops satellite to discover that the planetary system around the star LHS 1903 challenges current planet formation theories with the unusual order of its planets. Surprisingly, the most distant outer planet might be rocky and...

Read more at: Scientists release the most detailed analysis yet on the expansion of the Universe

Scientists release the most detailed analysis yet on the expansion of the Universe

23 January 2026

Scientists at the Dark Energy Survey have published their most detailed explanation yet of how the universe has expanded over the last six billion years, thanks to an unprecedented combination of cosmic measurements. The international group of researchers, including researchers from the University of Cambridge, is led by...

Read more at: ALMA Reveals Teenage Years of New Worlds

ALMA Reveals Teenage Years of New Worlds

20 January 2026

New astronomical survey captures previously unknown growing pains in the lives of planets A team of astronomers (including Professor Mark Wyatt from the IoA) have, for the first time, captured a detailed snapshot of planetary systems in an era long shrouded in mystery. The ALMA survey to Resolve exoKuiper belt...

Read more at: Professor Debora Sijacki Awarded RAS Eddington Medal

Professor Debora Sijacki Awarded RAS Eddington Medal

9 January 2026

Professor Debora Sijacki has made outstanding contributions to our understanding of the role Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) play in the evolution of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the Universe. She pioneered the development of computational techniques and physical models to understand the complex interactions between...

Read more at: Hubble sees asteroids colliding at nearby star for first time

Hubble sees asteroids colliding at nearby star for first time

6 January 2026

In a historical milestone, catastrophic collisions in a nearby planetary system were witnessed for the first time by astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. As they observed the bright star Fomalhaut, the scientists saw the impact of massive objects around the star. The Fomalhaut system appears to be in a...

Read more at: UK’s largest astronomy instrument begins journey to Chile

UK’s largest astronomy instrument begins journey to Chile

9 December 2025

The University of Cambridge – through the Cavendish Laboratory, the Institute of Astronomy, and the Kavli Institute for Cosmology – has played a central role in the development of MOONS, the UK’s most complex astronomy instrument, now en route to Chile for installation on the Very Large Telescope. MOONS, the Multi-Object...

Read more at: Professor Sera Markoff appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at University of Cambridge

Professor Sera Markoff appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at University of Cambridge

8 December 2025

Professor Sera Markoff has been appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. One of the oldest named professorships in the world – founded in 1704 after Sir Isaac Newton oversaw its creation – previous Plumian Professors include distinguished astronomers Sir Arthur...

Read more at: Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe

Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe

4 December 2025

Astronomers have identified one of the largest rotating structures ever reported: a “razor-thin” string of galaxies embedded in a giant spinning cosmic filament, 140 million light-years away. Their findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , could offer valuable new insights into how...

Read more at: Institute of Astronomy researcher awarded Schmidt Sciences fellowship to ensure AI benefits society

Institute of Astronomy researcher awarded Schmidt Sciences fellowship to ensure AI benefits society

6 November 2025

Institute of Astronomy researcher Dr Miles Cranmer is one of 28 researchers worldwide to receive an AI2050 fellowship from Schmidt Sciences, awarded to researchers studying how to fulfil AI’s potential to benefit humankind. The fellows will pursue efforts to solve challenging problems in AI by building AI scientists...

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