The Milky Way could have many more satellite galaxies than scientists have previously been able to predict or observe.

Dr Cyril Bourgenot from our Centre for Advanced Instrumentation is part of a team developing cutting-edge technology to enable astronomers to look deeper into the Universe. He is presenting this work as part of the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting 2025, which is being hosted by Durham University this week. Here, Cyril tells us about his work and how it could help answer the ultimate astronomical question – is there life elsewhere.

Almost a thousand of the world’s top space scientists will visit Durham University next week (7 to 11 July) as we host the UK’s National Astronomy Meeting (NAM) 2025.