Physics & Astronomy
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New telescope to be the ‘GOTO’ for gravitational wave events
Leicester space scientists will contribute to a huge new telescope, made up of identical arrays on opposite sides of the planet, to track down sources of gravitational waves. The Gravitational-wave Optical Transient Observer (GOTO) will be deployed across two antipodal locations to fully cover the sky, and will scour our galaxy – and beyond – […]
First JWST Images – What do they Show?
Professor Martin Barstow wrote in the Conversation to explain what JWST’s first, amazing images show – and how it will change astronomy. After decades of development and many trials and frustrations along the way, the James Webb telescope has finally started to deliver what it came for. On July 12, Nasa released the first scientific […]
Ground-breaking view of the cosmos revealed at Space Park Leicester
Astounding images telling the story of a hidden universe through every phase of its cosmic history have been revealed for the first time at Space Park Leicester. The pioneering Midlands facility was one of only a handful of venues chosen by the European Space Agency to showcase the first images from the £10 billion James […]
First Images from James Webb Space Telescope
The first full-colour images from NASA’s largest and most powerful space science telescope will be revealed to the public at an exciting free event at Space Park Leicester. The pioneering Midlands facility has been successful in its bid to the European Space Agency to showcase the first images from the £10 billion James Webb Space […]
National Space Centre: Planetary Science at Space Lates
Join Dr Henrik Melin (STFC James Webb Fellow) from University of Leicester, for this Space Lates at the National Space Centre on July 22nd. The National Space Centre is heading to the planets, with guests talking about past, current and future missions to some of our closest neighbours in the Solar System, and some a […]
University celebrates inspirational women in Centenary year
Women from the University of Leicester who have been an inspiration to their colleagues have been honoured in a special photographic display. Staff were invited to nominate those they felt were truly inspirational women, with 20 from across the University selected for a new wall of striking photographic portraits in the Fielding Johnson Building, on […]
Gaia Data Release 3: New space data serves as ‘complete step change’ in understanding of our Universe
Space scientists have today (Monday) announced the discovery of a ‘super Jupiter’ orbiting a white dwarf, the first detected using direct observations with the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Gaia mission. The discovery forms part of a treasure trove of data made available in Gaia’s Data Release 3, which provides the most detailed survey of our […]
New Results in X-Ray Astronomy: Looking ahead to Athena
During May 2022, the School of Physics & Astronomy hosted two back-to-back meetings in high-energy astrophysics. Both meetings were entirely face-to-face; for many of us, this was our first opportunity to meet with colleagues outside of our own University since lockdown in 2020. On Thursday, May 26th, we ran the “New Results in X-ray Astronomy” […]
Diversity Session at the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) is celebrating its centenary in 2022/23, and Dr. Gillian Butcher (IUPAP Vice President at Large) is organising a session on diversity. As part of the IUPAP celebrations, a centenary symposium is being held in Trieste, 11th-13th July 2022. The symposium is available to attend online (no registration […]
Leicester scientist helps fine-tune space telescope 1.5million km from home
One of the Leicester space scientists who will make observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has travelled to the USA to help open the observatory’s ‘eyes’ to the universe. Dr Tuomo Tikkanen, of the University of Leicester’s School of Physics and Astronomy and Space Park Leicester, is co-investigator (co-I) with Leicester colleague Dr John […]
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