A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
Recent News
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.
AUI to Present at 243rd AAS Conference
Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) will attend the 243rd meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) in New Orleans from Jan. 7-11, 2024. Staff will deliver eight presentations on various astronomy topics, including education and professional development, accessibility, Indigenous-non-Indigenous collaboration and collaboration across disciplines. The full schedule is as follows:
Sunday, January 7
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CST, Location TBD
Inclusive Astronomy Education: Bridging Gaps for Diverse Learners (Splinter Session)
Monday, January 8
10:00 a.m. CST, Room 214
Cosmovisions of the Pacific: Advancing Indigenous-non-Indigenous Collaboration with Integrity (Oral Presentation)
Monday, January 8
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. CST, Location TBD
NEREID: Bridging Disciplines, Fostering Collaboration, and Advancing Earth-Space Research and Education, Session: Community and Profession (Oral Presentation)
Monday, January 8
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CST, Room 214
Astronomy for a Better World (Special Session)
Monday, January 8
5:30 p.m. CST, Hall B-1/B-2
ACEAP – The Chile Expedition for Astronomy Educators and Outreach Professionals (iPoster)
Tuesday, January 9
11:30 a.m. CST, Theater Stage, Exhibit Hall
Women and Girls in Astronomy Program – Five Project leaders will present their initiatives (Theater Presentation)
Tuesday, January 9
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CST, Hall B-1/B-2
Empowering a Network of Today’s Leaders: The Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (Poster Session)
Wednesday, January 10
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. CST, Location TBD
Enhancing Astronomy Engagement and Accessibility: Research Insights from the Big Astronomy Project, Session: Enhancing Learning Experience in Astronomy Courses (Oral Presentation)
Please note: locations and times are subject to change. Refer to the official AAS block schedule for the latest information.
Conference attendees are encouraged to visit booth 202A1 in the Exhibit Hall to learn about the latest discoveries and initiatives at AUI and its managed facilities, including the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory.
AUI is a proud sponsor of the 243rd AAS meeting.
Recent News
Astronomers Detect Earliest and Most Distant Blazar in the Universe
A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.