The Galactic Center, home to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, is a dynamic region offering unique insights into extreme astrophysical processes. The International Astronomical Union Symposium 405 (IAUS 405) in Brno, May 2026, will gather leading experts, including Nobel Prize laureates in Physics 2020, Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel, to explore the latest discoveries and deepen our understanding of this fascinating cosmic environment.
Prestigious Symposium on the Galactic Center
Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science is proud to announce it will host the International Astronomical Union Symposium 405 (IAUS 405), “Traversing the Galactic Center in Space and Time”, from May 18 to 22, 2026, in Brno, Czech Republic. The Galactic Center remains one of the most intriguing and dynamic regions in our Galaxy, offering an unparalleled window into the processes shaping the Milky Way. The Brno Observatory and Planetarium, co-organizer of the prestigious symposium, will provide the venue for the main scientific program as well as related popularization activities.
Insights from Leading Experts
Michal Zajaček, chair of the scientific and local organizing committees from the Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, stated:
“This symposium will gather leading experts in observational and theoretical astrophysics to explore the dense nuclear star cluster, the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, and the complex environment of the central molecular zone. Covering an impressive range of spatial scales, this event promises to deepen our understanding of star formation, stellar dynamics, and magnetohydrodynamics under extreme conditions.”
Cutting-Edge Instrumentation and Breakthroughs
Building on the momentum of the Galactic Center Workshop held in Granada in 2023, IAUS 405 will showcase the latest breakthroughs enabled by cutting-edge instruments such as JWST, GRAVITY/ERIS at the VLT (European Souther Observatory), Keck telescopes, ALMA, MeerKAT, and X-ray instruments XRISM and IXPE. This meeting will provide a unique opportunity for the scientific community to connect, exchange ideas, and chart the future of Galactic Center research.
Nobel Prize Laureates Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel as Invited Speakers
We are very pleased to announce that Nobel Prize laureates in Physics 2020, Andrea Ghez and Reinhard Genzel, will be presenting the opening talks at the Galactic Center 2026 conference in Brno. This prestigious event marks the 15th edition of this series, which began in 1982 at Caltech. Other confirmed invited speakers include renowned experts, such as Frank Eisenhauer, Alessandra Mastrobuono Battisti, Mark Morris, Laura Colzi, and many others. For detailed information about the conference program and previous editions, please visit https://gc2026.muni.cz/.
Invitation to Participate
Registration for the symposium is possible now. “We warmly invite researchers and enthusiasts alike to join us in Brno for this exciting event that highlights the Czech Republic’s growing role in astrophysical science, in particular in the study of supermassive black holes and their close environs,” concluded Michal Zajaček.
For more details, please visit the conference website or contact the organizing team at info.gc2026@muni.cz.
Contact for media
Michal Zajaček
Email: zajacek@physics.muni.cz
Mobile phone: +421 905 692 726
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