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Galaxies and Cosmology
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Stars, Stellar Populations and Interstellar Medium
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Sun and Solar System
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Relativistic and Particle Astrophysics
- Matter in extreme conditions
- Physics of accretion and matter ejection
- Astrophysics of compact objects
- The most powerful cosmic explosions: supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
- The origin of cosmic rays and dark matter
- Physics of gravitation and cosmology with high precision space astrometry
- Detection of gravitational waves from astronomical sources
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Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation
The best point of view toward the universe
The Lucchin Schools Return
Jun 01, 2025
First Edition of the New INAF PhD School Series Concludes in Asiago
MISTRAL, a wind of change in the SRT observations
May 29, 2025
MISTRAL is a new-generation receiver for observations at millimeter wavelengths, built as part of the recent project to upgrade the Sardinia Radio Telescope for the study of the high-frequency radio universe. The main features of this instrument are the very high number of detectors cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero and a dedicated cold optical system, which allow for extremely sharp images. MISTRAL made its “first light” by observing three different celestial objects: the Orion Nebula, the radio lobes of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87, and the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. These images represent the first scientific observations at 90 GHz ever obtained using the SRT
M87'S POWERFUL JET UNLEASHES RARE GAMMA-RAY FLARE
Dec 13, 2024
It is the first very high-energy flaring episode recorded from M87 since 2010. The data were collected by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration during a multi-wavelength observational campaign in 2018, using numerous orbiting telescopes such as NASA's Fermi, HST, NuSTAR, Chandra, and Swift, along with three of the largest Cherenkov telescopes: H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS
Unlocking the secrets of the first Quasars: how they defy the laws of Physics to grow
Nov 20, 2024
New evidence has been discovered explaining how supermassive black holes formed in the first billion years of the Universe's life. The study, conducted by INAF researchers, analyses 21 distant quasars and reveals that these objects are in a phase of extremely rapid accretion. This provides valuable insights into their formation and evolution, together with that of their host galaxies
The Lucchin Schools Return
Jun 01, 2025
First Edition of the New INAF PhD School Series Concludes in Asiago
MISTRAL, a wind of change in the SRT observations
May 29, 2025
MISTRAL is a new-generation receiver for observations at millimeter wavelengths, built as part of the recent project to upgrade the Sardinia Radio Telescope for the study of the high-frequency radio universe. The main features of this instrument are the very high number of detectors cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero and a dedicated cold optical system, which allow for extremely sharp images. MISTRAL made its “first light” by observing three different celestial objects: the Orion Nebula, the radio lobes of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy M87, and the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. These images represent the first scientific observations at 90 GHz ever obtained using the SRT
Unlocking the secrets of the first Quasars: how they defy the laws of Physics to grow
Nov 20, 2024
New evidence has been discovered explaining how supermassive black holes formed in the first billion years of the Universe's life. The study, conducted by INAF researchers, analyses 21 distant quasars and reveals that these objects are in a phase of extremely rapid accretion. This provides valuable insights into their formation and evolution, together with that of their host galaxies
Filippo Zerbi elected as chairperson of the SKAO Council from 2025
Nov 06, 2024
Italian astrophysicist Dr Filippo Zerbi has been elected as the next chairperson of the SKA Observatory Council, the intergovernmental organisation’s governing body
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On April 4th 2024, the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) appointed Professor Roberto Ragazzoni as President of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).
Brief news from the PRESIDENCY
Below, the latest news on the president:
The AGILE satellite re-entered the atmosphere
Feb 14, 2024
After 17 years of thriving operations, the AGILE Italian scientific satellite re-entered the atmosphere, thus ending its intense activity as a hunter of some of the most energetic cosmic sources in the Universe that emit gamma and X-rays
The operational phase begins for the CUBES spectrograph
Feb 17, 2022
The operational phase begins for the CUBES (Cassegrain U-Band Efficient Spectrograph) project, an innovative ultraviolet spectrograph to be installed on the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile
INAF joins the MeerKAT+ Project
Dec 17, 2020
The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft welcome the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica as partner on the MeerKAT extension project
The up-to-date list of open positions and job opportunities is available on the Italian website.
M87'S POWERFUL JET UNLEASHES RARE GAMMA-RAY FLARE
Dec 13, 2024
It is the first very high-energy flaring episode recorded from M87 since 2010. The data were collected by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration during a multi-wavelength observational campaign in 2018, using numerous orbiting telescopes such as NASA's Fermi, HST, NuSTAR, Chandra, and Swift, along with three of the largest Cherenkov telescopes: H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS
The first 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters
Nov 05, 2024
A study published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the formation and dynamical evolution of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters
FATE: forecasting optical turbulence to push the Very Large Telescope to its full potential
May 29, 2024
The FATE project began in November 2022 and entered the commissioning phase in September - December 2023. Once completed, it will enter in the operational phase in which ESO will be able to optimise observing strategies for the VLT and start planning those for ELT
MeerKAT+: the MeerKAT Extension
Feb 21, 2024
The handover of the first dish of the MeerKAT extension signals an important milestone for the SKA-MID construction
