Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg


Welcome to the Centre for Astronomy of Heidelberg University

New ZAH Director: Ralf Klessen

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)

New ERC Research Group Leader at ZAH: Max Grönke

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)

Michela Mapelli receives ERC Advanced Grant

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)

Light Pollution: A Threat to Astronomy in the Atacama Desert

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)

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

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)

Astronomers unveil deepest-ever census of Galaxy Groups

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)

More news and research highlights ►­►­►­►­

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ASTROPHYSICS CURRICULUM

Summer Term 2025 ►►►►

Astro & Physics Talks

HePhySTO – HEidelberg PHYsics Seminar Talks Organizer ►►►►

Next Astro colloquia
Sep 12
11:00		TBA
Johanna Vos (TCD)
Königstuhl Kolloquium
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
Sep 19
11:00		TBA
Laura Kreidberg (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)
Sep 26
11:00		TBD
Heidi Korhonen (MPIA)
Königstuhl Kolloquium
Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Level 3 Lecture Hall (301)

more colloquia ...

Recent ZAH publications
7/2025
Guiglion, G.
Impact of ⟨3D⟩ non-local thermodynamic equilibrium on the Galactic chemical evolution of oxygen with the Radial Velocity Experiment
A&A 699, A191(2025)

8/2025
Kobus, Julia; Reißl, Stefan et al.
POLARIS: The POLArized RadIation Simulator for Mie scattering in optically thick dusty plasmas
CoPhC 313, 09645(2025)

7/2025
Saglia, R.; Pasquini, L. et al. (inc. Ludwig, H. -G.)
Testing gravity with wide binaries: 3D velocities and distances of wide binaries from Gaia and HARPS
A&A 699, A151(2025)

more publications ...