Program News and Announcements

16 May 2025

HWO25 Registration Opens May 19th, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the inaugural open community event for NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory, to be held at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, DC, from July 28‐31, 2025. This milestone event will bring together scientists, engineers, industry and community stakeholders to propel the development of HWO, a mission expected to usher in a new era of astrophysics discovery and address one of humanity's oldest questions "Are we alone?"

A tentative agenda can be found here: PDF

Important Dates

May 15 Abstract Acceptance Notifications (these are on-going and are expected to conclude by May 15)
May 19 In-Person and Virtual Registration Opens
May 19 Preliminary Program Released

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Science

Galaxy Growth: Intergalactic & Circumgalactic Medium, Active Galactic Nuclei & Black Holes
Evolution of the Elements: Stars & Stellar Populations, Star Formation & Interstellar Medium, Cosmic Explosions
Cosmology: Nature of Dark Matter & Dark Energy, Distance Scale, Hubble Tension
Planetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, Architectures, Our Solar System, Exoplanet Demographics
Search for Life: Target Stars & Systems, Biosignatures, Habitability

Technology

Starlight Suppression: Contrast Technology & Methods
Ultrastable Telescope and Observatory Technology
Ultraviolet, Optical, & Near-Infrared Instrument Technologies: mirror coatings, gratings, detectors, spectroscopic multiplexing technologies
Emerging Technologies: photonics, quantum sensing
L2 Servicing technology and commercial synergies
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning for mission development, engineering, science research

Accepted presenters will be invited to contribute to the HWO25 conference proceedings, which will serve as the foundation for the first HWO Community Science Book.

For more conference information, please see https://www.stsci.edu/events/HWO25

Keep apprised of updates through our HWO mailing list, save the date, and be part of this exciting journey!