Associated Universities, Inc

10/05/2026

We spy the arrival of autumn colors at Green Bank Observatory!

Image credit: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO

10/02/2026

One internet search can be a successful science outreach moment.

For astronomer and artist Tyler Nordgren, the goal of his artwork isn’t simply to make people look — it’s to make them curious. A spark of curiosity can help connect people to the science happening at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)'s facilities like the Very Large Array and Green Bank Observatory.

Communicating science isn’t just about sharing what we’ve learned. It’s about inviting people to wonder, ask questions and discover why the work matters.

Hear more from Tyler in the latest episode of "Beyond the Breakthrough". Listen now:

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4y5smMw
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4xSpjHa
Podbean: https://bit.ly/3U0Ts9l

10/01/2026

UPDATE: The NSF Very Large Array Open House planned for Saturday, October 10, 2026, is canceled due to road damage from recent flooding and the subsequent closure of St. Rt. 60. The New Mexico Department of Transportation has issued travel guidance for detours to St. Rt. 60.

Read more: https://public.nrao.edu/news/fall-open-house-26/

In lieu of the in-person Open House, the planned talks will be livestreamed with Q&A on NRAO’s YouTube Channel and page starting at 10 AM MDT ⤵️

• 10 AM MDT - Ylva Pihlstrom, Deputy Assistant Director, New Mexico Operations – “Radio Astronomy in New Mexico”

• 11 AM MDT - Jill Malusky, News Manager – “NRAO Telescopes On Screen”

• 12 PM MDT - Rob Selina, Project Engineer for ngVLA – "The next generation Very Large Array"

Read more: https://public.nrao.edu/news/fall-open-house-26/

The VLA Visitor Center remains open during regular hours, and free public tours are still available on Saturdays and Sundays for those coming to the NSF VLA from the West and alternate routes.

While the NSF VLA cannot be accessed by State Route 60 coming from the East, New Mexico Roads and the Socorro County Office of Emergency Management have issued travel guidance for alternate routes. Drivers are advised to use caution as roads may be difficult to drive and 4WD vehicles are recommended.
• https://nmroads.com/default.html?v=2025012001
• https://sites.google.com/socorrocounty.net/socorro-county-infonet/emergency-announcements

The next VLA Open House is planned for April 24, 2027.

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The Fiesta is quickly approaching! 🎉 Please join us for the VLA’s free Fall Open House on Saturday, October 10 as we celebrate 70 years of NRAO.

🗓️ Saturday, October 10
⏰ 9 AM - 4 PM
📍 NRAO Very Large Array - Magdalena, NM

While the VLA is open daily for visitors, the Open House includes special extras: guided tours, talks, crafts, and food trucks. Come meet the scientists/engineers behind groundbreaking discoveries!

Admission is free, but advance tickets are required.

Press release: https://public.nrao.edu/news/fall-open-house-26/

Tickets: https://nraoepo.ticketapp.org/portal/product/40

10/01/2026

What’s new with the Next Generation Very Large Array (ngVLA)? 📡

We’ve recently reached some milestones for “first fringes” – meaning successful correlation, combining signals from 2+ separate antennas.

1️⃣ ngVLA prototype ↔ NSF Very Long Baseline Array (NSF VLBA): detections at X-band (10GHz)

2️⃣ ngVLA prototype ↔ NSF Very Large Array (NSF VLA): detections at Q-band (45 GHz)

Speaking generally, it can be harder to get things working at higher frequencies like these, so we are very excited about these testing successes! 🎉

📸 Credit: Scott Broadwell

09/30/2026

Look closely 🔍

There’s real astronomical data in the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)'s new telescope posters!

Hear how artist and astronomer Dr. Tyler Nordgren illustrated radio images in each poster, helping us to understand and connect with the science captured by these telescopes.

Listen to the new episode of AUI’s “Beyond the Breakthrough” podcast:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4y5smMw
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4xSpjHa
Podbean: https://bit.ly/3U0Ts9l

09/17/2026

The Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP) has announced ten community-rooted projects across North America selected to receive mini-grants. From the U.S. to Jamaica, these projects will bring astronomy to classrooms, cultural centers and underserved communities — inspiring the next generation of astronomers and science communicators.

Funding for WGAP is made possible through the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation's Women in STEM Program.

The Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP), led by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), under the North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD), is proud to announce the selection of ten regional projects to receive funding through the 2026 cycle.

09/11/2026

Today we honor the memory of 9/11 and remember the lives lost, the courage of heroes and resilience of our nation. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.

09/10/2026

What does it take to pursue a career in STEM? In addition to technical expertise, it often requires communication, collaboration and confidence.

PROVOCA, an initiative of AUI and National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), connects students in Chile with mentors across all STEM disciplines through a free, year-long online program. Students explore career paths, build professional skills and develop plans for their future — all while forming connections that last beyond the program.

Since launching in 2019, PROVOCA has brought together over 300 participants, including nearly 100 certified mentors representing diverse STEM fields and career stages. The program is fully online, making it accessible to students across Chile's vast geography, with the option to meet in person at the end for a celebration in Santiago.

PROVOCA's impact has been recognized internationally, including by the National Science Foundation and UNESCO. Most recently, the program received STEM Universe 2026 recognition from the European Southern Observatory, UN Women, and the Embassy of Finland in Chile.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4h058AC

09/04/2026

We’re in the final stretch of the week, and this culpeo fox seems to know the feeling!

Culpeo foxes are among the native animals that call the Atacama Desert home, and ALMA Observatory staff frequently spot foxes and other wildlife around the observatory.

Protecting this unique ecosystem has been part of ALMA’s mission from the start. Even before the observatory’s inauguration, experts were commissioned to study the area’s natural heritage and propose initiatives to protect its unique flora and fauna. Today, ALMA has an environmental management team dedicated to that work.

Photo credit: Pablo Carrillo