Welcome to the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University

Since July 1, Prof. Dr. Ralf Klessen (ZAH/ITA) is managing director of ZAH. He succeeds Prof. Dr. Joachim Wambsganss. As deputy director the ZAH board elected Prof. Dr. Dominika Wylezalek (ZAH/ARI). (2025/07/01)

Since July 1, 2025, Dr. Max Grönke started as Research Group Leader at ZAH. With his ERC on "Resolving the Multiscale, Multiphase Universe” he plans to connect small-scale plasma physics with the large-scale galaxy ecosystems. (2025/07/01)

The European Research Council (ERC) awarded Prof. Dr. Michela Mapelli (ZAH/ITA) an Advanced Grant of €2.5 million to study the formation of intermediate-mass black holes with 100 to 10.000 times the mass of our Sun. (2025/06/17)

Interview with Prof. Dr. Dominika Wylezalek (ZAH/ARI) on how a large-scale industrial project is threatening scientific research with telescopes operated by the European Southern Observatory. (2025/05/27)

The findings of a team of astronomers lead by Varsha Ramachandran (ZAH/ARI) reshape our understanding of this iconic cosmic duo. Both the black hole and its companion star are significantly lighter than previously thought. (2025/05/26)

A team of astronomers, including Matteo Maturi from ZAH/ITA, released a catalog of galaxy groups with an unprecedented view into the large-scale structure of the Universe. (2025/05/19)

Jul 22 16:30	Tracing out the darkness with cold gas: dynamically probing galaxy evolution and black holes Timothy Davis (Cardiff University ) Heidelberg Joint Astronomical Colloquium Philosophenweg 12, Main Lecture hall (gHS),
Jul 24 11:15	DRAGON star cluster simulations and how to form an intermediate mass black hole Rainer Spurzem (ARI, NAOC, Kavli-Beijing) ARI Institute Colloquium ARI, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, Seminarraum 1.OG
Jul 25 11:00	The Gaia Binary Star Revolution Kareem El-Badry (Caltech) Königstuhl Kolloquium Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

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GAIA based publications

Welcome to the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University

New ZAH Director: Ralf Klessen

New ERC Research Group Leader at ZAH: Max Grönke

Michela Mapelli receives ERC Advanced Grant

Light Pollution: A Threat to Astronomy in the Atacama Desert

Cygnus X-1: Lighter Black Hole, Richer in Heavy Elements

Astronomers unveil deepest-ever census of Galaxy Groups

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