Institute of Astronomy

News and Press Releases

Cold gas cloud shadows in the glare of a supermassive black hole

Published on 06/06/2016 

‘Shadows’ cast by molecular clouds moving toward the supermassive black hole. imprinting absorption lines on the continuum-subtracted spectrum from the region around the core of the galaxy.

First evidence of icy comets orbiting a sun-like star

Published on 17/05/2016 

Illustration of the dust ring surrounding HD 181327. Credit: Amanda Smith, University of Cambridge.

First evidence of icy comets orbiting a sun-like star

An international team of astronomers have found evidence of ice and comets orbiting a nearby sun-like star, which could give a glimpse into how our own solar system developed.

Three potentially habitable worlds found around nearby ultracool dwarf star

Published on 10/05/2016 

Three Earth-sized planets have been discovered orbiting a dim and cool star, and may be the best place to search for life beyond the Solar System.

The discovery of a planetary system around such a small star opens up a brand new avenue for research.

Winds a quarter the speed of light spotted leaving mysterious binary stars

Published on 26/04/2016 

Artist’s impression depicting a compact object – either a black hole or a neutron star – feeding on gas from a companion star in a binary system. Credit: ESA–C. Carreau

Winds a quarter the speed of light spotted leaving mysterious binary systems

Streams of gas have been spotted streaming away from a mysterious star system at a quarter the speed of light.

Postdoc Cohort Meeting

Published on 15/03/2016 

Just to remind you all to come along tomorrow to the second Postdoc Cohort Meeting:
Wednesday 16th March