HETDEX Opens Massive Cosmic Dataset to Scientists, Novices, and AI

Today, the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) - which recently completed the largest survey ever taken of the early universe – has released all of its immense, information-rich database to the public. 

Baryons at the Edge: SRG/eROSITA Survey Detects “Missing” Cosmic Gas at the Outskirts of Galaxy Clusters

A team of researchers at MPE has used data from the eROSITA sky survey to discover hot gas extending far beyond the known boundaries of galaxy clusters. This discovery provides new insights into the growth of these cosmic structures and helps solve the mystery of the “missing baryons.”

10,000 Euclid lenses wanted: MPE call for Space Warps

The Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching is inviting the public to take part in the ‘Space Warps’ citizen science project on the Zooniverse platform. Volunteers are asked to identify strong gravitational lenses in as yet unpublished images from ESA’s Euclid space telescope. Scientists expect over 10,000 new candidates – more than in 50 years of all previous discoveries combined.

Space Telescope Studies Solar System X-ray Glow
 

SRG/eROSITA reveals how our Solar System modifies the appearance of the X-ray sky

Rare Discovery of Two Protoplanets
 

Using the GRAVITY instrument on the ESO’s VLT Interferometer, astronomers have confirmed the existence of the protoplanet WISPIT 2c. This new discovery offers rare insights into planet formation and shows that planetary systems can form in parallel.

Conditions suitable for life on distant moons

Even in the darkness of space, life could be possible: A team of researchers from the ORIGINS Cluster has shown that moons of free-floating planets can keep their oceans liquid for billions of years.

Measuring the expansion of the universe with cosmic fireworks

Munich astronomers image and model extremely rare gravitationally lensed supernova

Paranal: Night Sky Secured – A Triumph for the Astronomers’ Protest

Protest by Nobel Laureate Professor Reinhard Genzel and the Astronomy Community proves successful: Industry project canceled.

New insights into the origins of the chemistry of life

Astrophysicists Discover Largest Sulfur-Containing Molecular Compound in Space

Dawn of a New Era of Interferometry with GRAVITY+

Beginning of November 2025, four lasers were fired into the sky above ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile, each creating an artificial star to help astronomers measure and correct atmospheric blur. This impressive launch, one from each 8-meter telescope, marks a key milestone of the GRAVITY+ project, led by MPE, significantly enhancing the VLTI’s ability to observe fainter objects and cover more of the southern sky.