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Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge

@cambridgeastro.bsky.social

News, public events, and research highlights from the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/

740 Followers  |  151 Following  |  58 Posts  |  Joined: 21.11.2024
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Posts by Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge (@cambridgeastro.bsky.social)

Cheops discovers late bloomer from another era | Institute of Astronomy 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 pla...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/cheops-...

14.02.2026 09:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Amazing moon photo, taken by PhD student Lily Duan Yi Ong through the IoA's 16" telescope! πŸ§ͺπŸ”­

13.02.2026 15:01 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Everyone should see the moon with their own eyes through a telescope or binoculars at least once, and the IoA is a great place to do it! (Or at least, was when I went to their open evenings around 2008/09, and I assume still is!)

13.02.2026 15:23 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Amazing moon photo, taken by PhD student Lily Duan Yi Ong through the IoA's 16" telescope! πŸ§ͺπŸ”­

13.02.2026 15:01 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
a framed architectural drawing, in a nicke above a defib and first aid kit

a framed architectural drawing, in a nicke above a defib and first aid kit

We now have an orginal architects drawing of the Cambridge Observatory - hanging in the entrance to the Cambridge Observatory!

11.02.2026 12:06 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Unusual astronomical event might be a 'superkilonova' – Physics World Merger of two neutron stars in the aftermath of a supernova may have been observed for the first time, though questions remain

An unusual signal initially picked up by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and subsequently by optical telescopes around the world may have been a β€œsuperkilonova” – that is, a kilonova that took place inside a supernova. πŸ§ͺβš›οΈπŸ”­ physicsworld.com/a/unusual-as...

09.02.2026 11:13 β€” πŸ‘ 67    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
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Astronomers reveal new details about dark matter’s influence on universe Scientists using data from the James Webb Space Telescope have made one of the most detailed high-resolution maps of dark matter ever produced. It shows how

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

27.01.2026 10:59 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Astronomers reveal new details about dark matter’s influence on universe Scientists using data from the James Webb Space Telescope have made one of the most detailed high-resolution maps of dark matter ever produced. It shows how

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

27.01.2026 10:59 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Scientists release the most detailed analysis yet on the expansion of the universe 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,

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

26.01.2026 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Scientists release the most detailed analysis yet on the expansion of the universe 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,

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

26.01.2026 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
ALMA Reveals Teenage Years of New Worlds | Institute of Astronomy 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 detai...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/alma-re...

21.01.2026 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
ALMA Reveals Teenage Years of New Worlds | Institute of Astronomy 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 detai...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/alma-re...

21.01.2026 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Three individuals observing a telescope at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. A text overlay reads: 'Are you looking for an astronomy internship at Cambridge?'

Three individuals observing a telescope at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. A text overlay reads: 'Are you looking for an astronomy internship at Cambridge?'

Undergraduates: Curious about a career in astronomy? πŸ”­

Take your first step with @cambridgeastro.bsky.social’s Summer Internship Programme and gain 8 weeks of research experience.

Applications from underrepresented groups in astronomy are encouraged.

Apply by 27 February πŸ‘‡
https://bit.ly/4qYR0LD

14.01.2026 13:01 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Eddington Medal has been won by Prof Debora Šijački, of @cambridgeastro.bsky.social, who said she was "profoundly honoured".

She's made outstanding contributions to our understanding of the role Active Galactic Nuclei play in the evolution of galaxies, clusters of galaxies and the universe.
‡️

09.01.2026 16:03 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 2
Hubble sees asteroids colliding at nearby star for first time | Institute of Astronomy 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 ...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/hubble-...

07.01.2026 09:21 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Hubble sees asteroids colliding at nearby star for first time | Institute of Astronomy 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 ...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/hubble-...

07.01.2026 09:21 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Research Associate/Assistant in observational Event Horizon Telescope (mm-VLBI) Science (Fixed Term) Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance, with the possibility for extension up to one year. Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at the

If you're a VLBI radio person πŸ”­πŸ§ͺ and keen on imaging #blackholes and their jets, please consider applying for a postdoc position in my new research group at the @cambridgeastro.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk!

www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...

20.12.2025 00:44 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sera Markoff appointed 17th Plumian Professor of Astronomy at University of Cambridge Black hole expert follows in footsteps of Sir Arthur Eddington, Sir Fred Hoyle, and Lord Martin Rees in one of world's oldest named professorships.

www.cam.ac.uk/stories/sera...

10.12.2025 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
UK’s largest astronomy instrument begins journey to Chile | Institute of Astronomy 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...

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/uks-lar...

10.12.2025 17:38 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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Sera Markoff appointed 17th Plumian Professor of Astronomy at University of Cambridge Black hole expert follows in footsteps of Sir Arthur Eddington, Sir Fred Hoyle, and Lord Martin Rees in one of world's oldest named professorships.

But wait, there's more! Here's a somewhat longer article about my new position at the @cambridgeastro.bsky.social πŸ§ͺπŸ”­ and @kavlifoundation.org Institute of Cosmology, at the University of Cambridge, from their communications team: www.cam.ac.uk/stories/sera...

10.12.2025 10:35 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 0
Professor Sera Markoff appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at University of Cambridge | Institute of Astronomy Professor Sera Markoff has been appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

I'm very excited and honoured to announce my new position πŸ§ͺπŸ”­ in the UK, starting in January! See here for more info:

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

08.12.2025 13:12 β€” πŸ‘ 111    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 26    πŸ“Œ 4
Professor Sera Markoff appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at University of Cambridge | Institute of Astronomy Professor Sera Markoff has been appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

08.12.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Professor Sera Markoff appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at University of Cambridge | Institute of Astronomy Professor Sera Markoff has been appointed Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge.

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

08.12.2025 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe Astronomers have identified one of the largest rotating structures ever reported: a β€œrazor-thin” string of galaxies embedded in a giant spinning cosmic

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

05.12.2025 09:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Astronomers spot one of the largest spinning structures ever found in the Universe Astronomers have identified one of the largest rotating structures ever reported: a β€œrazor-thin” string of galaxies embedded in a giant spinning cosmic

www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

05.12.2025 09:35 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ“‘ Last week ICCS Senior Research Software Engineer Jack Atkinson delivered his RSE skills course to researchers at @cambridgeastro.bsky.social. The course teaches key tools and techniques that researchers can start implementing now to improve the quality of their work.

01.12.2025 14:06 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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Gaia: Rewriting the story of the Milky Way

For over a decade, #ESAGaia mapped our galaxy with stunning precision, rewriting the story of the Milky Way πŸ‘‰ www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

While Gaia no longer collects new data, its scientific mission is far from over! Upcoming are the Gaia Data Release 4 and the final legacy catalogue. πŸ”­

28.11.2025 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 99    πŸ” 18    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Institute of Astronomy researcher awarded Schmidt Sciences fellowship to ensure AI benefits society | Institute of Astronomy 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 potentia...

Institute of Astronomy researcher awarded Schmidt Sciences fellowship to ensure AI benefits society : www.ast.cam.ac.uk/news/institu...

13.11.2025 15:33 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Our latest MandelZoom paper, led by Eun-jin Shin (Postdoc
@cambridgeastro.bsky.social) is out on arXiv today!

This work explores the impact of different stellar feedback mechanisms on black hole growth in dwarf galaxies!

#astro #astrocoding

28.10.2025 09:02 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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New telescope opens a window to the southern sky A powerful new telescope has captured its first glimpse of the cosmos, and could transform our understanding of how stars, galaxies and black holes evolve.

A powerful new telescope has captured its first glimpse of the cosmos, and could transform our understanding of how stars, galaxies and black holes evolve. www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...

22.10.2025 09:16 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0