ICRAR

Hey educators - there's still time to enrol in our PD micro-credential! Learn to build curriculum aligned astronomy lessons using real telescopes in ASTRM401 Features of the Universe.

ASTRM401 - Bring real astronomy into your teaching - icrar.org Learn to design engaging, curriculum-linked astronomy lessons using real telescopes in this short online course.

We're proud to have two ICRAR researchers up for a Premier's Science Award this year - Associate Professor Elisabete da Cunha, who studies how galaxies evolve, and Associate Professor Sascha Schediwy, who uses lasers to talk to satellites. Congratulations and good luck to both!

Ask an Astronaut | Western Australian Museum Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg is coming to Boola Bardip and we’re over the moon! Meet Katherine and find out how to make the dream of blasting off into space a reality.

A sneak peek at some of the (paid!) undergrad studentship projects available at ICRAR this summer, featuring:

- robots
- aliens
- AI
- black holes
- galaxies (galaxies, everywhere!)
- space secrets(?)
- radio magic(!)
- alliteration

Head to icrar.org/studentships to apply.

Calling all sky photographers - the Astrofest Astrophotography competition is open for entries!

Astrofest Astrofest will again feature a stunning range of astrophotography from WA's talented community. Every year, in the lead up to Astrofest, a competition is held to showcase the best on offer from...

Calling all undergrad students: applications are now open to join ICRAR for a (paid) 10-week research studentship this summer! Projects are available at both Curtin University and The University of Western Australia - see projects and apply at icrar.org/studentships.

Summer studentships at ICRAR Paid summer research placements at ICRAR - applications close August 23

Our TeraNet ground stations have successfully caught their first laser signals from orbit. Built using skills and techniques developed for the SKA project, this technology could revolutionise the way we get data from spacecraft.

TeraNet captures laser signals from German satellite, paving the way for 1,000-fold faster communication speeds from space. - ICRAR ‘TeraNet’, a network of laser ground stations specialising in high-speed space communications, has successfully received signals from a German satellite in low Earth orbit.

We can't wait to see this year's submissions!

Clean your sensors and hope for clear skies - entries for the 2024 Astrofest Astrophotography Competition are opening soon! We can't wait to see what you've got in store for us this year. Check back soon for submission details. 📷🌌

Are you a woman or gender diverse astronomer, engineer, or data scientist with 5+ years of post-PhD experience? Want to visit us in Perth? We're pleased to once again be offering a fully-funded Visiting Fellowship for Senior Women+ in Astronomy for 2025. Applications open until September 2 at

ICRAR's Visiting Fellowship for Senior Women+ in Astronomy Join our vibrant research community for a fully-funded visiting fellowship in Perth, Western Australia.

Hey teachers: want to learn to drive our SPIRIT robotic telescope from your classroom?

Enrolments are now open for our ASTRM401 Features of the Universe microcredential! Learn to design engaging, curriculum-linked astronomy lessons using real telescopes in this short online course.

Head to icrar.org/astrm401 for info and enrolments.

ASTRM401 - Bring real astronomy into your teaching - icrar.org Learn to design engaging, curriculum-linked astronomy lessons using real telescopes in this short online course.

We're proud to have not one but four ICRAR astronomers - winners Aaron Robotham & Kate Harborne and highly commended Sabine Bellstedt & Tamsyn O’Beirne - recognised in this year's Astronomical Society of Australia awards. Read more:

ICRAR Researchers shine at the Astronomical Society of Australia Awards - ICRAR Researchers at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have been honoured for their contributions to astronomy at the 2024 Astronomical Society of Australia Awards (ASA) last night. The ASA Awards recognise the contributions made to astronomy by individuals at various levels, f...

ICRAR was honoured to host a delegation from China last week, led by the Minister of Science and Technology. It was wonderful to see such strong recognition of ICRAR’s participation in ACAMAR – Australia and China’s flagship collaboration in astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. We look forward to continued collaboration and shared discoveries in years to come!

THIS FRIDAY: Join Prof. Steven Tingay in the to see how radio astronomers use the Moon to study the early Universe, find neutrinos and see how Earth might look to aliens.

This is a ticketed 18+ event run by WA Museum Boola Bardip: https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/boolabardip/lunar-lounge

This is no State of Origin battle. This is a Stellar Origin battle! ✨

The origins of this newly-discovered deep space object are mysterious to astronomers.

Did this object come from a Sun-like star, and collapse into a white dwarf, or did it come from a huge star that went supernova - its remains becoming a neutron star?

There's no referee to make a call here, all we know is this object is breaking all the (physics) rules by spinning slower than any other neutron star ever discovered.

It was found by researchers using our ASKAP radio telescope (one of its 36 dishes seen here) on Wajarri Country.

Read the story: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/June/Slow-spinning-radio-neutron-star-breaks-all-the-rules

📷 | Artist’s depiction of our ASKAP radio telescope with two versions of the mysterious celestial object: neutron star or white dwarf? - Carl Knox / OzGrav

WA was selected for the SKA-low telescope for its quiet skies, but radio signals from satellites are increasingly hard to escape. Some great commentary from ICRAR experts in this story from ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt.

Why increasing satellite 'noise' poses a big problem for $3b outback radio telescope By 2030, the world's largest radio telescope will be operational in remote Western Australia, but by then tens of thousands of satellites will be blanketing Earth's orbit with radio noise.

THIS FRIDAY: Join Dr Robin Cook in the for a look at how the intricate dance between the Sun, Moon and Earth leads to some captivating and awe-inspiring cosmic phenomena.

This is a ticketed 18+ event run by WA Museum Boola Bardip: https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/boolabardip/lunar-lounge

A very happy International Astronomy Day from everyone at ICRAR! The skies are looking clear this weekend - why not get out of town and check out one of the local stargazing spots recognised by our friends at Astrotourism WA? https://astrotourismwa.com.au/

An enormous thank you to everyone who showed up for our STEM Camp and Sidewalk Astronomy in Kununurra and Wyndham! It was fantastic to see so many people, young and old, get excited about exploringour skies.

You knew it was coming - images of this weekend's Australis, taken over our SPIRIT student-accessible robotic observatory. While the telescopes have a much too narrow field of view (think 'too zoomed in') to observe the Aurora themselves, our dark site at Mardella made for some pretty spectacular viewing. Thanks to Paul Luckas for the photos!

Congratulations to Professor Steven Tingay from our Curtin University node on being a finalist for the Professions category in the 2024 Western Australian of the Year Awards!

Finalists 2024 - Celebrate WA Aboriginal Award proudly sponsored by ^ Elsta Foy Elsta Foy, an esteemed Yawuru Walman Elder, nurse, and longtime Broome Councillor, has dedicated nearly 70 years to uplifting the Broome community. Despite facing racism and obstacles, Elsta’s childhood was marked by resilience and a refusal to see...

Thanks for having us Waringarri Media - we can't wait to see you tonight, Kununurra!

THIS FRIDAY: Join Professor Danail Obreschkow in the WA Museum Boola Bardip for a look at how the touchdown of the "Eagle" nearly 55 years ago was a game changer for science, industry and human culture.

This is a ticketed 18+ event run by WA Museum Boola Bardip: https://visit.museum.wa.gov.au/boolabardip/lunar-lounge

We're pleased to welcome Dr David Skellern AO as the new chair of the ICRAR board.

Full announcement: icrar.org/new-board-chair-david-skellern/

Dr David Skellern AO appointed as chair of ICRAR board Dr Skellern will commence as Board Chair on April 1.

Think finding one galaxy is impressive? How about 49 - in under 3 hours:

Astronomers discover 49 new galaxies in under three hours - ICRAR A team of international astronomers have discovered 49 new galaxies using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa from observations that were less than three hours long,