IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

16/12/2025

🚨SPACESCOOP ALERT!🚨

🌟 Did you know the Sun can throw tantrums? 🌟

When it gets super active, it hurls massive clouds of sizzling plasma into space. But here’s the twist: our Sun isn’t the only cosmic hothead. 🔥🌌

Astronomers have spotted wild outbursts from a young, Sun-like star called EK Draconis. Want the full story on these stellar outbursts and what they could mean for our own solar system?

Check out the latest Space Scoop! 🚀✨

Read more: https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2527/this-young-sun-like-star-has-both-hot-and-chill-vibes/

💬 Geethu Paulose
📷 Astronomical Observatories, Japan

Read this scoop in multiple languages

1. Spanish:
https://spacescoop.org/es/scoops/2527/esta-joven-estrella-del-tipo-del-sol-tiene-a-la-vez-ondas-calientes-y-frias/
💬 Amelia Ortiz-Gil

2. Farsi:
https://spacescoop.org/fa/scoops/2527/yn-strh-jwni-shbyh-khwrshyd-hm-hli-dg-drd-w-hm-hli-khwnsrd/
💬 Saeed Jafari

3. Indonesian:
https://spacescoop.org/id/scoops/2527/aura-panas-dingin-bintang-muda-serupa-matahari/
💬 Langitselatan

4. Italian:
https://spacescoop.org/it/scoops/2527/la-giovane-stella-simile-al-sole-con-un-doppio-carattere/
💬 Martina Tremenda (Valentina La Parola)

5. Portuguese
https://spacescoop.org/pt/scoops/2527/jovem-estrela-semelhante-ao-sol-exibe-caracteristicas-quentes-e-frias/
💬Teresa Direitinho

6. Slovenian
https://spacescoop.org/sl/scoops/2527/tale-mlada-soncu-podobna-zvezda-ima-vroco-in-hladno-plat/
💬 Primož Kajdič

15/12/2025

Journey to the Universe’s First Moments
What Does the Quark–Gluon Plasma Tell Us About the Beginning of Everything?

This infographic is part of the project ((Astronomical Infographic)) dedicated to simplifying astronomy for Arabic-speaking audiences.
It highlights quark–gluon plasma, one of the most extreme and fascinating states of matter — a state that existed only microseconds after the Big Bang.

What Is the Quark–Gluon Plasma?
Before atoms, stars, or galaxies existed, the early universe was filled with an incredibly hot and dense “cosmic soup.”
In this state, quarks and gluons — the building blocks of protons and neutrons — were no longer bound together.
Instead, they moved freely inside an ultra-hot fluid that filled the entire universe.
This plasma forms only under conditions of temperature and density far exceeding those in the cores of stars.

How Do Scientists Recreate It on Earth?
To study the earliest moments of the universe, scientists use powerful particle accelerators such as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) to reproduce similar extreme conditions:
1. Accelerating Atomic Nuclei
Heavy nuclei — such as lead — are accelerated to nearly the speed of light.
2. A Gigantic Collision
These nuclei collide with enormous energy, generating temperatures millions of times hotter than the center of the Sun.
3. Birth of the Quark–Gluon Plasma
For a brief instant, quarks and gluons break free from their bonds and flow in a hot, dense, rapidly expanding plasma — similar to the state of matter that filled the young universe.

Why Is It a Window into the Early Universe?
This plasma mirrors the conditions that existed within the first microsecond after the Big Bang.
By studying its behavior, scientists can understand how matter first formed, how protons and neutrons emerged, and how the universe transitioned from a hot fluid into the particles that eventually built stars and galaxies.
It is a rare opportunity to witness — in the laboratory — the physics that shaped the universe in its earliest moments.

Final Thought
Exploring quark–gluon plasma helps answer a profound question:
How did the universe evolve from an ultra-hot primordial soup into the structured cosmos we see today?
It is a scientific journey that takes us back to the first heartbeat of cosmic history.

هذا الإنفوكرافيك هو جزء من مشروع ((الإنفوكرافيك الفلكي)) لتبسيط علوم الفلك للناطقين باللغة العربية. يستعرض واحدة من أكثر الحالات المادية غرابة في الفيزياء: بلازما الكواركات–غلونات، وهي مادّة فائقة السخونة والكثافة يُعتقد أنها ملأت الكون في اللحظات الأولى بعد الانفجار العظيم.

08/12/2025

The Mars Base

This infographic is part of the project ((Astronomical Infographic)) dedicated to simplifying astronomy for Arabic-speaking audiences.
It illustrates how humanity might one day build a sustainable base on Mars — a dream slowly turning into a scientific goal.
Mars is the most promising destination for human settlement in our solar system. Its proximity to Earth and thin atmosphere make it suitable for solar energy generation. Yet establishing a permanent base there will require solving complex challenges involving energy, food, health, radiation, and communication.
- Nuclear Energy:
Compact nuclear reactors will supply continuous power, especially during dust storms that block sunlight for weeks.
- Closed-Loop Agriculture:
Hydroponic greenhouses will recycle water and air, allowing crops to grow under artificial light, providing both fresh food and oxygen.
- Radiation Protection:
Habitats must be built underground or shielded with thick layers of Martian soil to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation.
- Dust and Pollution:
Global storms can cover the planet for months, requiring automated cleaning systems to protect machinery and life-support systems.
- Remote Operations:
Most activities will be handled by robots controlled from Earth, with a communication delay of about 20 minutes each way.
- Exercise and Health:
Mars’ gravity is only 38% of Earth’s, so astronauts will need daily exercise to maintain muscle and bone strength.
- Crew Rotation:
Due to long travel times, new crews will arrive every few years, making the base largely self-sufficient in food, energy, and resources.

Building a Mars base would be more than a technological achievement — it would mark humanity’s first step toward becoming a multi-planetary species.

هذا الإنفوكرافيك هو جزء من مشروع ((الإنفوكرافيك الفلكي)) لتبسيط علوم الفلك للناطقين باللغة العربية. يستعرض كيف يمكن للإنسان أن يبني قاعدة مستقرة على كوكب المريخ — الحلم الذي يتحول تدريجياً من الخيال إلى هدف علمي واقعي.

01/12/2025

Light Pollution and Its Impact on the Night Sky

This infographic is part of the project ((Astronomical Infographic)) dedicated to simplifying astronomy for Arabic-speaking audiences.
It illustrates how excessive artificial lighting hides the natural beauty of the night sky and makes stars disappear from our view.

What Is Light Pollution?
It’s the scattering of artificial light into the atmosphere, caused by poorly directed or overly bright outdoor lighting.
Instead of illuminating the ground, much of the light reflects upward, creating a glowing haze that blocks the stars.

The Result:
In big cities, only a few of the brightest stars are visible.
But in rural or protected dark-sky areas, thousands of stars — and the Milky Way itself — can still be seen.

How to Protect the Night Sky:
- Use fully shielded lights that direct illumination downward.
- Reduce blue light, which contributes most to skyglow.
- Install motion sensors or timers to avoid unnecessary lighting.
- Choose low-intensity, energy-efficient lighting to save power and preserve dark skies.

Dark skies are part of our shared natural heritage.
By reducing light pollution, we protect not only our environment — but also our connection to the cosmos.

هذا الإنفوكرافيك هو جزء من مشروع ((الإنفوكرافيك الفلكي)) لتبسيط علوم الفلك للناطقين باللغة العربية. يُظهر كيف تؤدي الإضاءة الصناعية الزائدة إلى طمس السماء الليلية، مما يجعل النجوم والمجرات تختفي تدريجيًا عن أعيننا.

01/12/2025

Reunion

In 2025, we organised activities around the world to celebrate the women whose work in solar physics helps us better understand the Sun and its effects on our everyday lives.

Their scientific contributions guided our year, especially during the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and International Women’s Day, where our theme continued to invite the public to explore the Sun and the women who study it.

As we close our Solar Physics 2025 theme, we’re bringing the participating scientists together once more to share conversations about their research, their experiences, and the importance of women’s contributions to science.

🌞Join us on December 16 at 1 PM - UTC on our

🎉 https://www.youtube.com/live/10mMZJsDiLo?si=07tKdS93FwxJiRlo

28/11/2025

📢 يشرف الجمعية التونسية للشباب الفلكيين 🥳 دعوتكم لحظور الندوةلتي ستقدمها الدكتورة 👩‍🎓 ميساء اليزيدي عن جولوجيا الكواكب، ستكون الندوة حول 😍:

* استكشاف كوكب عطارد، من Marnier 10 إلى BepiColombo 🌑🪐🛰️🚀

* بيانات الاستشعار عن بُعد وتطبيق ArcGis: من الأرض إلى الكواكب 🪐🛰️🚀

ستكون الندوة بتاريخ: 4 ديسمبر 2025 🤩

التوقيت: من الساعة 9:00 صباحًا

المكان: قاعة مؤتمرات الخوارزمي (قسم الرياضيات)، كلية العلوم بتونس، جامعة تونس المنار

ستكون المحذرة باللغة الانجليزية

فمرحباً بالجميع🥰

IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach_Tunisia
Tunisian Association of Young Astronomers
Tunisian Association of Young Astronomers

26/11/2025

In these snapshots from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory, brilliant blue galaxies are bursting with star formation, lighting up the Universe with newborn stars. 🌌✨

26/11/2025

How to make astronomy research accessible to broad audiences? How can science journalism bridge local contexts with global discoveries?

How to make astronomy research accessible to broad audiences? How can science journalism bridge local contexts with global discoveries?

OAD Director Kevin Govender will moderate the session "From sky to society: the great strides of astronomy in Africa" at the World Conference of Science Journalists 2025 next week in South Africa. With speakers from South African Radio Astronomy Observatory - SARAO, African Astronomical Society, South African Astronomical Observatory, and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), India, the session will explore the trajectory of astronomy in Africa and contextualise how African facilities and scientists have come to occupy critical roles in global discovery, while also examining the broader social and political dimensions of these developments.

SASJA - South African Science Journalists' Association Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
https://www.wcsj2025.org/programme/sessions/from-sky-to-society-the-great-strides-of-astronomy-in-africa/

[WCSJ, science journalism, astronomy, discovery, science communication, South Africa, Africa, journalists]

25/11/2025

🚨SPACESCOOP ALERT!🚨

🎃👻 Perfect timing for Halloween 🎃👻

ESO has discovered a bat flying above its Paranal Observatory in Chile. Is the observatory getting haunted? Or is it a bat signal in space? Neither. It's a nebula being illuminated by the stars embedded within it.

Want to learn more why this cosmic bat is glowing in this red colour? Check out our latest article!

https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2526/a-spooky-bat-signal-in-space/
💬 Kira-Marie Mikosch
📷 ESO/VPHAS+ team

Facebook – 🚨SPACESCOOP ALERT!🚨

A bat signal in space? 🦇 Astronomers have discovered a cosmic cloud that resembles a bat.
Want to check out the spooky Halloween image?🎃👻 Check out our latest article! 🥄

https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2526/a-spooky-bat-signal-in-space/
💬 Kira-Marie Mikosch
📷 ESO/VPHAS+ team

Read this scoop in multiple languages

1. Spanish:
https://spacescoop.org/es/scoops/2526/una-escalofriante-batisenal-en-el-espacio/
💬 Primož Kajdič
2. Indonesian:
https://spacescoop.org/id/scoops/2526/sinyal-kelelawar-menyeramkan-di-luar-angkasa/
💬 Langitselatan

3. Italian:
https://spacescoop.org/it/scoops/2526/un-inquietante-bat-segnale-dallo-spazio/
💬 Martina Tremenda (Valentina La Parola)

4. Japanese:
https://spacescoop.org/ja/scoops/2526/yu-zhou-nimobukiminabatsutoshigunaru/
💬

5. Portuguese
https://spacescoop.org/pt/scoops/2526/um-assustador-bat-sinal-no-espaco/
💬Teresa Direitinho

6. Slovenian
https://spacescoop.org/sl/scoops/2526/srhljiv-netopirji-signal-v-vesolju/
💬 Primož Kajdič

25/11/2025

🚨SPACESCOOP ALERT!🚨

Planets form inside the cosy belly of protoplanetary discs. These discs are spinning clouds of gas and dust around young stars. But, how do planets actually form inside the discs?

To find out, astronomers started looking closely at spinning discs around baby stars and found some exciting clues in the swirly patterns made by the discs. Curious to know what they are? Check out our latest story:

https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2525/how-do-planets-really-form/

💬 Geethu Paulose
📷 ALMA/Tomohiro Yoshida et al

Read this scoop in multiple languages

1. Spanish:
https://spacescoop.org/es/scoops/2525/como-se-forman-realmente-los-planetas/
💬 Amelia Ortiz-Gil

2. French:
https://spacescoop.org/fr/scoops/2525/comment-se-forment-vraiment-les-planetes/
💬

3. Indonesian:
https://spacescoop.org/id/scoops/2525/bagaimana-planet-terbentuk/
💬 Langitselatan

4. Japanese:
https://spacescoop.org/ja/scoops/2525/huo-xing-haitsutaidonoyounidekirunodeshiyouka/
💬

5. Portuguese
https://spacescoop.org/pt/scoops/2525/como-se-formam-realmente-os-planetas/
💬Teresa Direitinho

6. Slovenian
https://spacescoop.org/sl/scoops/2525/kako-v-resnici-nastajajo-planeti/
💬 Primož Kajdič

24/11/2025

The Bortle Scale

This infographic is part of the project ((Astronomical Infographic)) dedicated to simplifying astronomy for Arabic-speaking audiences.
The Bortle Scale measures how light pollution affects the visibility of the night sky.
The higher the number, the brighter the sky — and the fewer stars we can see.

🔹The scale ranges from 1 to 9:
• Level 1: An exceptionally dark site — the Milky Way shines bright and full of detail.
• Level 3: Rural areas — some loss of contrast, but the Milky Way is still visible.
• Level 5: Suburban skies — only the brightest stars are visible.
• Level 8–9: City centers — the night sky glows with artificial light, and most stars disappear.

💡Each step on this scale represents how much of our natural night sky is lost to artificial lighting.
Preserving dark skies means preserving humanity’s shared window to the universe.

هذا الإنفوكرافيك هو جزء من مشروع ((الإنفوكرافيك الفلكي)) لتبسيط علوم الفلك للناطقين باللغة العربية.
يقدّم مقياس بورتل (Bortle Scale) طريقة علمية لتقدير مدى تأثير التلوث الضوئي على السماء المظلمة في أي موقع على الأرض.