News

Discovered for the first time the “birthplace” of a fast radio burst

An international team of astronomers, including Marta Burgay, Delphine Perrodin and Andrea Possenti from the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), identified for the first time the place of origin of a Fast Radio Burst (FRB), enigmatic radio signals lasting just a few milliseconds, which appear without warning in the sky

That strange haze on Ceres

A new study with ground-based telescopes conducted by a team of INAF astronomers strengthens the hypotheses provided by the Dawn spacecraft images: the dwarf planet seems to have an internal activity on its own which becomes evident when the light intensity of the mysterious bright spots varies

Gravitational waves: Italy in the forefront of a new understanding of the Universe

The announcement of the first direct detection of a gravitational wave opens a new era in physics and new perspectives in the investigation of the Universe. In this new page in the history of international research, Italy plays a major role, being the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) both involved in a number of projects.

A milestone toward E-ELT construction

ESO will enter into final discussions with the winning bidder of the tender process for the design, manufacture, transport, construction, on-site assembly and verification of the Dome and Main Structure of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). Nicolò D'Amico (INAF's President): "It will bring important returns for italian industries".

Very little magnetism in this odd couple

The new observations of IGR J17544-2619 obtained by the NASA satellite NuSTAR have shed light onto some of the most obscure properties and behaviours of SFXTs. The unprecedented accuracy of these measurements has allowed the team led by Varun Bhalerao at the Inter University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (India), with the participation of INAF researchers Patrizia Romano and Lorenzo Natalucci, to see a cyclotron line in the X-ray spectrum of this source, the unambiguous signature of the interaction between the stellar matter and the magnetic field of the compact object that is attracting it.

4th "Paolo Farinella" Prize 2014

To honor the memory and the outstanding figure of Paolo Farinella (1953–2000), an extraordinary scientist and person, a prize has been established in recognition of significant contributions given in the fields of interest of Paolo, which span from planetary sciences to space geodesy, fundamental physics, science popularization, security in space, weapons control and disarmament.

First COSPAR Symposium - Abstract submission deadline extended

The First COSPAR Symposium will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, 11-15 November 2013. Abstract deadline has been extended to 30 June 2013.

The third issue of the Paolo Farinella Prize

The third issue of the Paolo Farinella Prize is devoted to planetary science and specifically for studies on the collisional processes in the Solar System, which was one of the major research interest in Paolo’s career. The award ceremony will be hosted by the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) meeting in London, UK (8th to 13th of September 2013)."

Job for Ska office: Project scientist(s)

The SKA Office is advertising for the position of Project Scientist, which can be found here http://www.skatelescope.org/people-contacts/jobs/ and in the AAS register.

CALL FOR PROPOSAL TNG & REM

CALL FOR PROPOSAL TNG & REM also featuring HAN-GTO, PAOLO and first NOTTIME AOT 28 (2013B) is now open for proposals Applications for observing time for the period September 1st, 2013 - February 28th, 2014 are solicited and should be submitted by Friday 3rd May, 2013, 13:00 UT

ITP 2013-2014 Call for Proposal is open

ITP 2013-2014 Call for Proposal is open. Deadline 28-FEB-2013 TEXT The 2013-2014 ITP call full text is found at: http://www.iac.es/adjuntos/cci/AO_ITP-2013_final.pdf.

The OPTICON Trans-National Access 2013B Call for Proposals

The OPTICON Trans-National Access 2013B Call for Proposals is now open, with TNG important news

A SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR FOR SKY

Opened the call for a Scientist Director of the Square LKilometer Array Organization

AstroFIt “ASTRONOMY FELLOWSHIPS IN ITALY”: 2nd Call

INAF announces the opening of the second Call of the AstroFIt Programme. To be eligible, researchers must be holders of a doctorate or have at least 4 years of research experience. Applicants with more than 8 years of post-PhD research or a total of 12 years of research experience are not eligible to participate.

NASA's NuSTAR celebrates first 100 days

September 21 2012 marks 100 days since NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, called NuSTAR, launched into space from the L-1011 "Stargazer" aircraft.

Hydrogen on Vesta hints at water

The giant asteroid Vesta is surprisingly rich in one watery ingredient, hydrogen.

Ultra-distant galaxy: MACS1149-JD1

NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes have spotted the most distant galaxy ever seen and studied by astronomers.

Dawn's greatest hits

A NASA video lists the main scientific activities of the mission, as it leaves the orbit of VESTA and heads towards Ceres.

Surprises from Kepler's supernova

The supernova observed for the first time in 1604 by Kepler was not only more powerful, but might have also occurred at a greater distance, than previously thought.

A Celestial Witch’s Broom?

The Pencil Nebula is pictured in a new image from ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. This peculiar cloud of glowing gas is part of a huge ring of wreckage left over after a supernova explosion that took place about 11 000 years ago.