News
-
Design METIS instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope finalised 16 May 2024
The design for the METIS instrument for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is final. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has given the green ligh...
-
Webb data suggest potential atmosphere around rocky exoplanet 08 May 2024
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope may have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years ...
-
Radio astronomers bypass disturbing Earth's atmosphere with new calibration technique 06 May 2024
An international team of researchers led by astronomers from Leiden University (the Netherlands) has produced the first sharp radio maps of the univer...
-
Surprise: No methane on the night side of exoplanet WASP-43b 30 April 2024
The night side of exoplanet WASP-43b, to the surprise of astronomers, does not appear to contain methane. It is likely that extreme winds do not allow...
-
Scientists discover the largest stellar black hole in the Milky Way 16 April 2024
A European team of astronomers has discovered the largest stellar black hole in the Milky Way. It is more than thirty times as massive as our sun and ...
-
Student cleans up archival data and uncovers two stellar cocoons 03 April 2024
While investigating 16 years of images of young stars from a retired astronomical camera, Leiden master's student Sam de Regt discovered that two of t...
-
Stunning James Webb images show birth and death of massive stars 25 March 2024
The James Webb Space Telescope continues to surprise us with stunning pictures, but of what exactly? Astronomer Nienke van der Marel shows with three ...
-
New generation galaxy formation simulations on the horizon – Evgenii Chaikin received his doctorate with honours 21 March 2024
Simulations of galaxy formation provide much more information about galaxies than a telescope. Simulations have been improving significantly in recent...
-
Webb detects icy ingredients for making potential habitable worlds 13 March 2024
An international team of astronomers, led by Will Rocha of Leiden Observatory, using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered that ...
-
The mysteries of exoplanets and supermassive black holes: two Vici grants for Leiden Observatory 07 March 2024
One unravels the origin of the largest black holes in the universe, the other investigates the influence of stellar wind on the atmosphere of exoplane...
-
UV radiation from massive stars prevents formation of Jupiter-like planet 01 March 2024
An international team of scientists, including Xander Tielens of Leiden Observatory, has used space telescope Hubble and the ALMA observatory to show ...
-
Vici grants for seven researchers from Leiden University 29 February 2024
From research on stellar winds to sign language: an impressive seven researchers from Leiden University will receive a prestigious Vici grant from the...
-
Michiel Hogerheijde temporary programme director MSc Astronomy 24 January 2024
Michiel Hogerheijde has been appointed temporary programme director of the Astronomy master's programme from 1 January to 1 September 2024. He takes o...
-
Black hole one year later: proof of a persistent shadow 18 January 2024
The brightness peak of the ring around M87's supermassive black hole has shifted 30 degrees counterclockwise in a year. This is shown by new images re...
-
In memoriam Harold V.J. Linnartz 1965 – 2023: Unlocking the Chemistry of the Heavens 03 January 2024
With great sadness we share the news that Prof. Harold Linnartz passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday 31 December 2023. We are all in shock,...