The CCAT team is thrilled to announce that the primary mirror “M1” was lifted and successfully installed on the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope this morning.
The Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope’s primary mirror was successfully emplaced.
Job Offer: W2 Professorship (tenure-track or tenure) for Radioastronomy
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, in the department of Physics/Astronomy, invites applications for a
W2 Professorship (tenure-track or tenure) for Radioastronomy
The professorship’s field of work should cover topics in radioastronomy, complement the spectrum of astronomical research at the Argelander-Institute for Astronomy, with a particular focus on expanding existing radioastronomical research. The institute works closely with the neighboring Max-Planck-Institute for Radioastronomy and the University of Cologne, particularly within the framework of the Cluster of Excellence Dynaverse and the Collaborative Research Center 1601. Ideally, the professorship should be compatible with these large-scale projects.
Teaching is an integral part of the professorship and covers all levels of the degree programs in German and English. A high-quality teaching concept is expected. Non-native speakers are expected to be able to teach in German within a reasonable time frame. Active participation in academic self-administration is expected.
The recruitment requirements are based on § 36 HG (NRW). Knowledge of the German language is not a prerequisite for employment. Depending on qualifications and academic experience, the position will be filled either as a permanent W2 professorship or as a W2 tenure-track professorship with the goal of tenured W2.
The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university. It aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are under-represented and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore strongly encourages women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable individuals with a certified serious disability and those of equal status are particularly welcome.
Applications should be submitted with the usual documents: Curriculum vitae, certificates, list of publications (five publications should be highlighted and their significance briefly explained), description of previous research (max. 2 pages), a detailed research plan (max. 3 pages) and teaching concept (1 page), as well as an overview of courses taught and third-party funding acquired.
Please submit these documents by April 26, 2026 via the appointment portal of the University of Bonn: https://berufungsportal.uni-bonn.de
If you have any questions, please contact the front office of the physics and astronomy department at the University of Bonn (fachgruppe@physik.uni-bonn.de).
Compensation and Benefits
The position includes standard medical and dental insurance, maternity leave, sick leave, and retirement benefits.
Application Details
Link to Online Application
https://berufungsportal.uni-bonn.de
Start Date: Mar 15, 2026
Application Deadline: Apr 26, 2026
Inquiries
New Program of the Public Observatory Cologne
The winter program of the Public Observatory Cologne is online. Please have a look at their website or here: https://sfb1601.astro.uni-koeln.de/volkssternwarte/
The Public Observatory Cologne is a private institution which is run by the members of the “Vereinigung der Sternfreunde Köln e.V.” on a voluntary basis. This association of interested amateurs and amateur astronomers was founded in 1922 with the aim of disseminating basic astronomical knowledge to the public and promoting the training and further education of active amateur astronomers within the scope of the available possibilities.With the 60cm refractor “Cologne Large Telescope” (CLT) installed in 2012, the Volkssternwarte Köln operates the largest freely accessible telescope in North Rhine-Westphalia
New years fun article: Shine Bright Like a … Gasblase
Über einen vermeintlichen »Diamantring«, der an keinen Finger passt.
Der Nachthimmel dient schon lange als Inspiration für Musik der gefühlstriefenderen Art. Und tatsächlich: Es gibt Momente, in denen das Universum so wirkt, als habe es selbst eine heimliche Playlist. Kölner Astronom*innen haben im Sternentstehungsgebiet Cygnus X einen »Diamantring« untersucht. Ja, diamonds, wie bei Rihanna. Nur passt der Ring an keinen Finger, denn mit seiner Breite von zwanzig Lichtjahren liegt er mit Abstand auf Platz eins der Charts.
Dieser Ring leuchtet im infraroten Bereich »bright like a diamond« und hat natürlich eine dramatische Backstory. Einst war er eine prachtvolle kosmische Blase, aufgeblasen von einem Stern, der mindestens so viel Energie hatte wie Lady Gaga beim Super-Bowl- Auftritt. Doch dann – typisch Universe-Melodrama – ist die Blase geplatzt. Wörtlich. Gase entweichen, Form kollabiert. Übrig bleibt: ein kosmischer Ring.
Simon Dannhauer vom I. Physikalischen Institut erklärt es ohne jegliche Allüren: »Die Blase ist sozusagen ›geplatzt‹, weil Gase in die dünneren Bereiche der Umgebung entweichen konnten. So blieb lediglich die besondere flache Form übrig.« Ich sehe Mariah Carey vor mir, die zwischen Staub- und Gaswolken steht und haucht: »Like a star, youʼre shining in the sky…« Und der Ring so: Ja klar, aber bitte in Slow Motion. Denn er wächst mit gerade mal 1,3 Kilometern pro Sekunde – Schneckentempo für kosmische Verhältnisse.
Um dem Ganzen auf die Spur zu kommen, mussten die Wissenschaftler*innen mit SOFIA, einem fliegenden Observatorium in einer Boeing, über 13 Kilometer hoch steigen. Eine Art kosmischer Tourbus, mit den besten Instrumenten. Von dort oben sahen sie: Der vermeintliche »Diamant« im Ring – ein junger Sternhaufen – gehört eigentlich gar nicht dazu. Auch das noch: ein Weltraum- Sham! Er liegt ein paar hundert Lichtjahre davor, tut aber auf den Fotos so, als würde er zum Ring gehören. Alles eine Frage der Perspektive also.
Für Romantiker ist das natürlich ein kleiner Dämpfer. Kein echtes Schmuckstück, kein kosmischer Verlobungsring, nur Gas, Staub und optische Täuschung. Aber mal ehrlich: Wer braucht schon ein Tiffany- Schmuckkästchen, wenn das Universum uns ständig mit neuen Remixen aus »Stars Are Blind«, »Starlight« und »A Sky Full of Stars« versorgt?
Der »Diamantring« zeigt jedenfalls, dass selbst explodierte Blasen im All noch glamouröser aussehen als alles, was wir auf Erden je Glitzerndes in die Kamera halten. Und vielleicht ist das die eigentliche Botschaft: Im Weltall ist einfach jede*r ein Star – selbst dann, wenn man nur Staub ist, der ein bisschen hübsch im Licht funkelt.
von Anna Euteneuer, https://uni-koeln.de/en/university/news/cologne-university-magazine/unimag-single-view/shine-bright-like-a-gasblase
Merry XMAS 2025
Lange Nacht der Astronomie (13.09.2025 at the Public Observatory Cologne)
20:00 Uhr Lecture: FYST – The new Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope
20:00 o’clock: Visit of the Observatory
21:00 o`clock: Visit of the Observatory and planetarium presentations
Join us for the next event of Astronomy on Tap Köln on June 13
Join us next week at our new Astronomy on Tap Köln season of WiSe 2024-2025!
Registrations here: https://t.rausgegangen.de/tickets/astronomy-on-tap-koln-2
Every month, Astronomy on Tap Köln brings you fun and enlightening talks in German and English! Join us to find what Astrophysicists are up to in solving the puzzles of the cosmos.
Make sure to show off your smarts in the exciting Pub Quiz. Winners get astronomy goodies from the European Southern Observatory, SOFIA and other cool telescopes, to take home!
Check-in now for free! or simply respond to this email with the no. of people you plan to bring to the event (not mandatory but helps us to make adequate arrangements)
Program 13.Jun 2025
“Von der Rotation zur Detektion – Der Rotations-Fingerabdruck von Molekülen” (auf Deutsch) by Dr. Luis Bonah
Der Talk handelt vom Rotations-Fingerabdruck von Molekülen, wieso er für die Detektion von Molekülen im Weltall essentiell ist, und wie wir ihn im Labor rekonstruieren können.
“Masers the original Space Lasers (or Masers, Lasers and their Creators)” (in English) by Dr. Arshia Maria Jacob
Although lasers play a vital role in our daily lives today, they were once seen as a solution in search of a problem. How did that happen? The history of the laser is a fascinating journey marked by brilliant ideas, Nobel prizes, patent disputes, and even the accidental discovery of an astronomical phenomenon. In this talk, I will guide you through this remarkable story.
Sternenstaub auf Reisen – Stefanie Walch-Gassner (19.03.25, Planetarium Bochum)
Planetarium Bochum, 19. März, 20:00 Uhr
https://www.planetarium-bochum.de/de_DE/program/sternenstaub-auf-reisen.1369612
MINT-Tag für Schülerinnen: Hands-on-Einblicke in naturwissenschaftliche Studiengänge
Stefanie Mühle, Sylvia Adscheid, Dr. Malte Tewes, Dr. Sonja Felder and Josephine Benna offered hands-on astronomy workshops at the “STEM Day 2025” of the University.
The text below was translated from the original article (in German): https://www.informatik.uni-bonn.de/de/aktuelles/unsere-news/2025-02-05-mint-tag
Getting more girls interested in studying mathematics and science: that is the aim of STEM Day at the University of Bonn. Numerous departments – from computer science, mathematics and physics to chemistry, geodesy, astronomy, meteorology and geophysics – offered schoolgirls a day-long opportunity to get to know their subjects and ask questions about studying.
Female students are still underrepresented in some STEM subjects (abbreviation for: mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology). The University of Bonn wants to counteract this and convince as many talented schoolgirls as possible to study in this field.
This year, girls and young women once again had the opportunity to get a taste of various mathematical and scientific degree courses. Under the title “STEM Day for schoolgirls”, a total of 101 schoolgirls from grades 10 to 13 took part in workshops during the all-day program, in which they experienced research and experiments up close. Lecturers and students talked to them about what drives them and gave them an impression of what studying in their respective subject might be like. The pupils also had the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and make contacts. At the end of the event, the students received a certificate of participation.
About the “Schnupper University” and the “MINT Day”
For 24 years, the University of Bonn has been organizing a taster university for schoolgirls under the title “Perspektive Math.-Nat!”. To mark its 25th anniversary, the concept of the event is being revised and is thus experiencing a creative break. In order to give interested schoolgirls an insight into the STEM subjects and to show them exciting study and career paths, individual departments at the University of Bonn have jointly decided to offer a “STEM day for schoolgirls”.
Title Image: MINT-TAG für Schülerinnen: Eine Schülerin betrachtet die Darstellung der Erde als Geoid.
© Maximilian Waidhas | Universität Bonn
KONTAKT
Dr. Felix Boes
Akademischer Rat
Institut für Informatik 4
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
E-Mail: boes@cs.uni-bonn.de
Telefon: +49 228 73 60555
In Memory of Prof. Karl Menten
Mit schwerem Herzen trauern wir um unseren Freund und Weggefährten Karl Menten, der am 30.12.2024 plötzlich und unerwartet verstarb. Grosse Dankbarkeit erfuellt uns beim Gedanken an die lange Suche nach Wahrheit in der gemeinsamen Beobachtung der Natur. Wir werden ihm immer ein ehrendes Andenken bewahren. With heavy hearts we mourn the loss of our friend and companion Karl Menten, who died suddenly and unexpectedly on December 30, 2024. We are filled with great gratitude when we think about the long search for truth in the common observation of nature. We will always honor his memory.
Public Observatory Cologne
The program for Winter 2025 is online: https://sfb1601.astro.uni-koeln.de/volkssternwarte/
Merry XMAS
As the year draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all colleagues and friends who contribute to advancing our understanding of the habitats of massive stars across cosmic time. Your dedication and collaboration continue to illuminate the path forward in our shared scientific journey.
May this holiday season bring you moments of reflection and inspiration, and may the New Year provide new opportunities for discovery and progress.
CompositesWorld: Airborne completes final delivery of CFRP mirror structures for Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope
The magazin CompositesWorld reports about the completion and structures of the FYST telescope by Airborne, featuring an off-axis Crossed-Dragone design, consisting of a parabolic primary mirror and a large concave secondary mirror, both with a diameter of roughly 6 meters. This creates a high-throughput, wide field-of-view telescope capable of mapping the sky rapidly and efficiently: https://www.compositesworld.com/news/airborne-completes-final-delivery-of-cfrp-mirror-structures-for-fred-young-submillimeter-telescope
photo: Jana Bauch (UzK)
video: Adam Polczyk, Niklas Carl (UzK)
CRC1601 insect hotels are ready for moving in
The CRC’s Sustainability Board is responsible for coordinating the evaluation of the environmental impact of the CRC’s activities and proposing measures to reduce it.
In addition, the Sustainability Board organises talks and workshops for the CRC members to raise awareness of sustainability issues and establish solutions for daily work.
During the sustainability barbecue on October 17, among other topics, the University of Cologne’s sustainability strategy and the problem of conference trips were discussed. In the afternoon, several workshops took place, one of which involved participants building their own insect hotels. This Thursday, a total of seven insect hotels were put up around the physics department of the University of Cologne.
Insect hotels provide shelter and nesting facilities for a variety of insects during winter. Introducing insect hotels can help with pollination and ecosystem diversity.
Foto and Video by Helen Kupfer and Annemarie Sich