“The world is changed. I feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air.”
Join the Transients Group at the University of Canterbury for Transients in Middle Earth, a time-domain astronomy conference between the 9th to the 13th of February 2026 held in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), Aotearoa New Zealand. Registration ends on the 1st of February 2026 NZDT.
This meeting will bring together researchers working on transient and variable phenomena, particularly those using space-based observatories and large survey datasets. Various topics such as supernovae, fast transients, microlensing, and more will be discussed.
The first 2.5 days of the conference will feature invited talks, contributed presentations, and focused discussion sessions. We are planning a half day excursion to Mount Sunday (Erodas) in the middle of the week. The remaining 2 days will be structured as collaborative working time—an opportunity for hands-on group projects, proposal planning, and in-depth scientific exchange with fellow researchers and leading experts.
We additionally invite participants to stay for a second optional co-working week, providing space for extended collaboration before exploring the beautiful South Island.
We are lighting the beacons - and we welcome you to join us in Middle Earth!
