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Professor Steven Balbus

Savilian Professor of Astronomy: the next 400 years

The most recent Savilian professor, Steven Balbus FRS, held the chair from 2012-2024 and, last year, co-edited a book on the topic; we spoke with him to find out what it means to hold the title.

20 October 2026

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) was able to detect the host galaxy of the fast radio burst called FRB 20240304B, whose location is shown by the white cross.

UK astronomers help reveal host galaxy of most distant fast radio burst

An international team of astronomers including Dr Kaustubh Rajwade from the University of Oxford, have identified the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) seen to date.

This image, taken with ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) shows Beta Pictoris d, a new planet found orbiting the star Beta Pictoris. The star is at the centre of the frame, and was subtracted when processing the data, revealing the environment around it. The new planet, indicated with an arrow, is the third one found around this star. The other two are Beta Pictoris b –– the bright source to the left, and Beta Pictoris c, orbiting much closer to the star and not seen here.

Planet found after ten-year game of hide-and-seek

A planet that hid from astronomers for ten years has been found by a team including researchers from Oxford.

This 1.7-gigapixel image of a field of stars in the constellation Lupus showcases the unprecedented view of the Universe that NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory gives us.

Lights, camera, action: LSST’s official launch

After more than a decade of planning and preparing, the NSF-DOE Vera C Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time officially began last night; the telescope in Chile will create a 'movie of the sky' over the next 10 years.

This illustration depicts the Sun-like star TOI-791 and two giant planets

Discovery of planets lighter than candy floss

An international collaboration led by the University of Oxford has discovered two of the lowest-density giant planets ever detected: rare 'super-puff' planets with densities lower than candy floss.

James Webb Telescope seen from its left (or port) side. This view shows part of the bottom of the telescope’s multi-layered sunshield, primary mirror, and mirror support struts.

51��ing exoplanets and neutron stars with the James Webb Space Telescope

Two researchers from the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford have been awarded observing time on the James Webb Space Telescope to study exoplanet atmospheres and the origins of the heaviest elements in the Universe.

NASA/ESA/CSA JWST images of the complex of galaxies associated with the distant radio source TGSSJ1530+1049

JWST observes birth of giant galaxy and its massive black hole

An international team of astronomers, led by Dr Aayush Saxena from the University of Oxford, has used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe the birth of a massive galaxy.

Type Ia supernova visible as a blue dot at the centre of this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image

New study confirms universe's expansion is still accelerating

A new international study has strengthened evidence that the expansion of the universe is still accelerating, addressing recent claims that had called one of modern cosmology's most important discoveries into question.

Keith Tyson in front of painting artwork.

Keith Tyson supports prestigious professorship

Turner Prize-winning artist Keith Tyson has donated £250,000 to fund the Savilian Professorship of Astronomy.

James Matthews in blue collared shirt smiling

Meet...James Matthews

We work among extraordinary people doing extraordinary things; get to know some of them by reading these quick-fire interviews.

Female from South Africa holding a phone showing the STEP into the Cosmos webapp

Astrophysics for all with Xhosa-language webapp

Professor Katherine Blundell launches Xhosa-language webapp STEP into the Cosmos to introduce curious minds to the foundations of astrophysics.

Fermilab

Oxford physicists among Fermilab Breakthrough Prize recipients

Dr Babak Abi, Dr Farrukh Azfar and Dr Sam Henry have all been recognised for their work reporting the results from the measurement campaigns at Fermilab.