The restless Universe
The central theme of this year's annual conference is the time domain in all fields of astrophysics and in all electromagnetic frequency ranges as well as in observations of other information carriers. The German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA), which is currently being founded, invites you to Görlitz from 15 to 19 September 2025.
The conference in Görlitz will be the first annual conference of the German Astronomical Society to be held in Saxony in 100 years. Görlitz is the seat of the newly founded German Centre for Astrophysics (DZA). The DZA not only stands for attractive and pioneering astrophysical research, but also for related developments in the fields of technology and data science. As a major national research centre, the DZA will also serve the entire astrophysical community. In the initial phase, the DZA will be dedicated to time-domain astrophysics, with a particular focus on compact objects across the mass scale.
Prof. Dr. Stefanie Walch-Gassner, President of the German Astronomical Society, emphasizes: “I am particularly pleased that we are able to hold this year’s AG annual conference at the new DZA site. The DZA will become a key pillar of astrophysics in Germany – especially in multi-messenger astrophysics. This year’s meeting is an ideal opportunity to strengthen exchange across communities and to jointly shape the scientific perspectives the DZA opens up.”
Prof. Dr. Günther Hasinger, designated founding director of the DZA, adds: “It is a strong signal that the international scientific community is gathering in Görlitz. The conference underlines that excellent science can be based in Lusatia. With AG2025, we are excited to present the latest developments in astrophysics and to highlight Lusatia as an emerging region of innovation and science.”
The conference features a varied program of plenary lectures, splinter meetings, poster sessions, an award ceremony, and a town hall meeting on the European Southern Observatory’s Strategy 2040 (ESO). Special networking opportunities include joint lunches hosted by the Astro-Women-Network (Wednesday) and the Astro Diversity Network (Thursday). There will also be an update on the “Denkschrift”, which reflects the strategic planning of astrophysics in Germany. Registration for the conference in Görlitz and for scientific contributions is possible via the conference website:
https://ag2025.astronomische-gesellschaft.de
The registration deadline for the conference is 1 September 2025.
Please, note that the deadline for abstract submissions has passed. Evaluation and scheduling of the presentations have already been started. The splinter organizers may still consider late submissions but there will be no guarantee for this.
A highlight of AG2025 will be the public evening lecture on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 8 p.m. in the dome hall of the Kulturforum Görlitzer Synagoge. Stefan Wagner, leading radio astronomer at the DZA Astrophysics Department and co-initiator of the project, will speak on: “Brighter than billions of suns: From the devil’s star to the biggest explosions in the universe.” The lecture will showcase the fascinating phenomena of the restless universe, including the brightest cosmic explosions since the Big Bang. Admission is free, and all interested parties are warmly invited.
