Scientists led by Prof. Grzegorz Pietrzyński, astronomer of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) received the most prestigious Grant of the European Research Council (ERC) Synergy of EUR 14 million. It is one of the largest research grants in the world and the first of its kind in Poland.

Their research project entitled “Precise calibration of the cosmic distance scale in the era of large surveys” will be carried out by a consortium led by the Astronomical Center of Nicolaus Copernicus PAN.

The main scientific goal of the grant is to make very accurate measurements of distances on very different scales from the Sun to distant parts of the universe. Scientists will create new measurement methods.

The grant will enable the construction of a new telescope at the Polish Cerro Armazones Observatory in northern Chile.

The project will be implemented by Astronomical Center of Nicolaus Copernicus PAN together with partners from the Center for Theoretical Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Paris Observatory and The Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies.