XXXIII IAU General Assembly
The IAU General Assembly brings together the international astronomy community for symposia, focus meetings and broader scientific exchange. The preliminary programme includes computational astrophysics, CTAO, planet formation, stellar populations, low-surface-brightness astronomy and AI methods. Registration opened on 15 September 2026. Standard talk/poster abstracts and participation-grant applications close on 15 January 2027; early registration closes on 5 March. Session details remain subject to confirmation.
LARIM2026: Latin-America Regional IAU Meeting
The eighteenth Latin American Regional IAU Meeting convenes astronomy researchers for a broad scientific programme in Cancún. UNAM’s Instituto de Astronomía and Instituto de Radioastronomía y Astrofísica organize the meeting with INAOE. Abstract submissions and IAU travel-grant requests have closed. Registration without a scientific contribution and late payment remain available until 20 October 2026; the fee increases after 21 September.
ESO Studentship Programme Europe 2026/2027
An ESO studentship in Garching, Germany supports six months to two years of research within an existing doctoral programme in astronomy or a related field. Applicants develop the project jointly with an ESO supervisor and their home-institute supervisor. The October round closes on 20 October 2026, including reference letters, and normally leads to a start between March and August 2027. The home institution must confirm enrolment, existing funding arrangements and support for the remainder of the doctorate where required.
ESO Fellowship Programme Chile 2026/2027
The four-year Chile fellowship combines independent astrophysics research with observatory duties at Paranal or ALMA during the first three years. The fourth year is dedicated to research and can be hosted at an eligible institution. Observational, theoretical and computational astrophysicists can apply. Applicants must obtain their PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline before 1 November 2027. Applications close on 15 October 2026; Europe and Chile require separate applications. Use the current ESO application guidelines and official templates, which supersede any outdated document instructions on the recruitment portal.
ESO Fellowship Programme Europe 2026/2027
The three-year Garching fellowship combines independent astrophysics research with functional work for 25% of the fellow’s time. Observational, theoretical and computational astrophysicists can apply. Applicants must obtain their PhD in astronomy, physics or a related discipline before 1 November 2027. Applications close on 15 October 2026; Europe and Chile require separate applications. Use the current ESO application guidelines and official templates, which supersede any outdated document instructions on the recruitment portal.
Unveiling a fast (and furious) early universe with JWST
JWST observations reveal sources earlier and brighter than anticipated. This talk examines their implications for cosmological and galaxy-formation models. It considers the unexpectedly numerous galaxies during the first few hundred million years, at redshifts above nine, and how cosmological clustering measurements can distinguish competing explanations. It then presents an initial empirical measurement of the dependence of star-formation variability, or burstiness, on galaxy mass, which may help explain the excess. Finally, it discusses tensions between JWST measurements of reionization and evidence from the cosmic microwave background and Lyman-alpha forest, including implications for DESI’s recent dark-energy results.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Stellar Populations / Evolution of Galaxies / Artificial Intelligence
The FICOSS-AI project will develop an open-source pipeline integrating astrophysical models, spectral diagnostics and AI to study stellar populations and galaxy evolution. The fellow will combine machine learning, population-synthesis models and spectral-analysis tools, contribute to publications and mentor students technically. The expected start is 1 February 2027, or earlier if needed. Apply by 2 November 2026 with a CV, publication list and research-interest statement; two recommendation letters must be sent directly by referees as described on the official advertisement.
Exploring exoplanets with the Pandora Space Telescope
University of Arizona planetary scientist Daniel Apai joins Tim Swindle to discuss the Pandora Space Telescope and its potential to reveal the properties of exoplanets and their atmospheres. This Arizona Science episode examines the scientific questions addressed by the observatory as it returns data from Earth orbit. Published on 10 September 2026; listen through Arizona Public Media’s episode page.
What counts as a moon? Huge ‘exosatellite’ sparks debate
Nature reporters discuss evidence for a distant Jupiter-mass exosatellite and the discovery of a rare transmissible cancer in wild catfish.