Dunlap Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Albert Lau took these stunning images at the Algonquin Radio Observatory (ARO) last week. Researchers at the Dunlap Institute use the ARO for Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry, which connects the signal from several telescopes to act as a single instrument!

We're excited to join York University and the Allan I. Carswell Observatory at this year's Astro Fair this Saturday! At our booth, we'll be running all kinds of interactive astronomy activities! Hope to see you there! For more information: https://www.yorku.ca/science/observatory/astrofair2026/

In a recent Nature paper, the MOTHRA telescope unveils this spectacular image of the Helix Nebula. New features can be seen, revealing how dying stars return the ingredients of life to space! https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/new-image-reveals-how-dying-stars-return-the-ingredients-of-life-to-space/

Did you know that you can learn all about what happened at the Dunlap Institute in 2025 in our Annual Report? Learn about our research, technologies, training and outreach here: https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/about/annual-reports/

#AstronomyonTapTO has lead the way for many events where folks can learn about science in fun informal settings! Read all about it here: https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/news/thirsting-knowledge-professors-are-bringing-touch-class-toronto-s-bars And be sure to join us this evening at The Great Hall!

Meet our third speaker, Biprateep Dey! At #AstronomyonTapTO, he will be telling us about how we can use distant galaxies to map our universe! 🌌 Join Biprateep, Tobias, and Erika next week at The Great Hall on June 19th! More information: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JfuBKyTzL/

Join us at The Great Hall on June 19th for #AstronomyonTapTO, where our second speaker, Tobias Géron, will tell us about how bars in galaxies may be the source of their demise! Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JfuBKyTzL/

Meet our first speaker for #AstronomyonTapTO coming up Friday, June 19 at The Great Hall! PhD Candidate Erika Hornecker will be talking about Active Galactic Nuclei, caused by material falling into the supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies! https://www.facebook.com/share/1JfuBKyTzL/

Astronomy on Tap is back on Friday, June 19th at The Great Hall! Join us for an evening of intriguing talks, fun games, great prizes, drinks, snacks and conversations with astronomers! Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Hope to see you there! https://www.facebook.com/share/1HwqVXsWJK/

Today the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics turns 18! On May 21, 2008, the Institute was established thanks to the endowment received after the sale of the David Dunlap Observatory. We're so proud of all that has been achieved in the last 18 years and are excited to see what comes next!

Canada is now at the heart of the world’s largest telescope with the ANDES instrument! Read more about it here: https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/canada-now-at-the-heart-of-the-worlds-largest-telescope-with-the-andes-instrument/

For this year's Helen Sawyer Hogg public lecture, Conny Aerts will explain how asteroseismologists decode tiny stellar vibrations to peer beyond the visible external layers of stars. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unravelling-the-symphonies-of-the-stars-with-asteroseismology-tickets-1986924747406

Check out this month's AstroTours on Thursday, May 7th at 8pm! Graduate student Mark Dodici will be talking about how tidal forces play a role in sculpting our Universe! Location: McLennan Physical Labs, 60 St. George st, room 102 More info: https://www.astro.utoronto.ca/astrotours/index.html

A team of astronomers, lead by U of T's Prof. Adam Hincks, has bolstered the evidence for the existence of one of the most remarkable, yet elusive, phenomena in the universe: pairs of supermassive black holes (SMBH) in orbit around each other in the centres of galaxies. https://uoft.me/bsmbh

At Toronto’s best educational (and free! In this day and age!) event, Astronomy on Tap w/ @dunlapinstitute.bsky.social Another full house.

Tomorrow is the night! Join us at #AstronomyonTapTO at The Great Hall and meet Gustavo, who will tell you all about how to measure large distances with variable stars! Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm! See you tomorrow! https://www.facebook.com/share/18Tazk4Ti1/

Meet MOTHRA, a telescope built from 1,140 high-end telephoto lenses to achieve the light-gathering power of a 4.8-meter telescope! It's goal is to detect the ultra-faint gas between galaxies. https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/revealing-a-hidden-universe-first-of-its-kind-telescope-mothra-unveiled/

Join us at #AstronomyonTapTO this Friday at The Great Hall and meet Ronan, who will tell you all about how stars form in our galaxy! Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm! See you there! https://www.facebook.com/share/18Tazk4Ti1/

#AstronomyonTapTO is this Friday! Meet Michael Poon, who will be giving a talk about looking for invisible planets! Join us at The Great Hall on March 13 to hear more! Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm! Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Tazk4Ti1/

Meet our third speaker, Gustavo Medina Toledo! At #AstronomyonTapTO, he will be telling us about how variable stars allow us to take measurements of the distant universe! 🌌 Join Gustavo, Ronan, and Michael next week at The Great Hall Toronto on March 13th! https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgBxPtYqn/

Join us at The Great Hall on March 13th for #AstronomyonTapTO, where our second speaker, Ronan Kerr, will tell us about how our galaxy produces stars! Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgBxPtYqn/

Meet our first speaker for #AstronomyonTapTO on Mar. 13! Michael Poon will be giving a talk about seeing "invisible" planets with infrared light! See https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgBxPtYqn/ for more details!

Learn about finding intelligent life in the universe with PhD student Pinchen Fan at this month's AstroTours! Location: PB150, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, 144 College St Time: Talk starts at 7pm. Activities to follow from 8-9pm. Learn more: https://www.astro.utoronto.ca/astrotours/index.html

On Friday, March 13th, Astronomy on Tap returns to The Great Hall! Join us for an evening of great talks, fun games, awesome prizes, and the chance to hang out with real astronomers! Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm! https://www.facebook.com/share/1DgBxPtYqn/ #astronomyontapTO

📣 The Dunlap Institute is hiring for the position of Lead Software Developer! This two-year term position will involve developing software for CanDIAPL, or the Canadian Data Intensive Astrophysics Platform. Closing date is February 27. More information: https://uoft.me/CanDIAPL-developer-2026

Check out tomorrow's Astrotour! Graduate student Nolan Koblischke will be talking about how AI helps astronomers learn about the Universe! Date: Thu, Feb 5 Time: Lecture at 7pm, activities to follow at 8pm Location: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, rm 150, 144 College St Free, no registration needed!

📣 The deadline to apply to the 2026 Dunlap Summer School has been extended to Friday, February 6! To learn more and to apply, please visit: https://uoft.me/dss2026

No one can deny that 2025 has been a whirlwind of a year! Between Astronomy on Tap, the Dunlap Summer School, incredible celestial events and astronomical discoveries, there was certainly enough to keep us busy. Happy holidays from all of us at the Dunlap Institute, and all the best in 2026!

📣 Applications are open for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), which runs from May to August! This is a great opportunity for undergraduate students to prepare for a career in scientific research. Apply by Jan. 30! To learn more & apply: https://www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/training/surp/

📣 Applications are now open for the 2026 Dunlap Institute Summer School, which this year will have a focus on optical astronomy! Summer School dates: July 20-24, 2026 Application deadline: January 30, 2026 Learn more and apply at www.dunlap.utoronto.ca/training/sum...