Kavli Prize for Astrophysics: Winners by Year

Award years

• 2026

  • Vasily Belokurov, Amina Helmi, Rodrigo Ibata

    For uncovering the fossil evidence of past mergers proving that the Milky Way galaxy was built through hierarchical accretion.

• 2024

  • David Charbonneau, Sara Seager

    For their ground-breaking work on the discovery and characterization of extra-solar planets and their atmospheres.

• 2022

  • Conny Aerts, Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard, Roger Ulrich

    For their pioneering work and leadership in the development of helioseismology and asteroseismology.

• 2020

  • Andrew Fabian

    For his groundbreaking research in the field of observational X-ray astronomy, covering a wide range of topics from gas flows in clusters of galaxies to supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies.

• 2018

  • Ewine van Dishoeck

    For her combined contributions to observational, theoretical, and laboratory astrochemistry, elucidating the life cycle of interstellar clouds and the formation of stars and planets.

• 2016

  • Ronald Drever, Kip S. Thorne, Rainer Weiss

    For the direct detection of gravitational waves.

• 2014

  • Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Alexei A. Starobinsky

    For pioneering the theory of cosmic inflation.

• 2012

  • Michael Edwards Brown, David Jewitt, Jane Luu

    For discovering and characterizing the Kuiper Belt and its largest members, work that led to a major advance in the understanding of the history of our planetary system.

• 2010

  • James Roger Prior Angel, Jerry E. Nelson, Raymond N. Wilson

    For their contributions to the development of giant telescopes.

• 2008

  • Donald Lynden-Bell, Maarten Schmidt

    For their contributions to understanding the nature of quasars.