MODEST 26

Modelling and Observing Dense Star Clusters in Vietnam
Dense Stellar Systems from Globular to Nuclear Star Clusters

Quy Nhon, ICISE Vietnam, Oct. 11-17, 2026

Scientific Organising Committee (SOC):

Management: Abbas Askar (CAMK, Warsaw, Poland), Tomek Bulik (Univ. of Warsaw, Poland), Rainer Spurzem (NAOC/CAS, Beijing, China and Univ. Heidelberg, Germany); Members (alphabetic order of family name): Jarrod Hurley (Swinburne Univ., Melbourne, Australia), Hyung Mok Lee (Seoul Natl. Univ., Korea Rep.), Dieu Nguyen (Univ. of Michigan, USA), Fred Rasio (Northwestern Univ., Evanston, USA), Dominik Schleicher (Sapienza Univ. Rome, Italy), Anna-Lisa Varri (Univ. of Edinburgh, UK)

Scientific Rationale

This is an annual meeting on star cluster modelling and observations, including their stellar, binary, and higher-order multiple populations, as well as compact objects such as X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, millisecond pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes. These systems are important laboratories for multi-messenger astrophysics in both the electromagnetic spectrum and gravitational waves. Existing or upcoming large surveys using ground and space based facilities such as JWST, Vera Rubin, Gaia, ESO-VLT, MUSE, LAMOST, FAST, SKA, and the Einstein Probe will deliver unprecedented amounts of data. A central aim of the conference is to discuss how to connect this growing wealth of observational data with state-of-the-art numerical models, and to help train the next generation of astrophysicists in modern modelling and data analysis techniques.

Related topics will include the formation of dense stellar systems across cosmic time, from dense molecular clouds and embedded stellar systems to cosmological simulations of star cluster formation and evolution. We will also consider the role of star clusters in galactic archaeology, the formation and growth of nuclear star clusters, and their interaction with intermediate-mass and supermassive black holes. Phenomena such as tidal disruption events, quasi-periodic eruptions, extreme mass ratio inspirals, and other transient signals will be discussed in the context of upcoming multi-messenger observations.

Another key theme will be compact objects and gravitational wave sources, their dynamical formation channels, their observational signatures, and the prospects offered by planned gravitational wave observatories. The meeting will also provide a forum for exchange on new numerical techniques, population synthesis methods, few-body dynamics, and advances in high-performance computing relevant to simulations of dense stellar systems.

Finally, this will be the first MODEST conference held in Vietnam, offering an opportunity to foster closer interactions and strengthen future collaboration between the MODEST community and scientists in in Vietnam and across the Asia–Pacific region.

The following list gives an idea of relevant topics:
[to be edited]

• Numerical approaches to modelling stellar systems and their constituents

- Simulation techniques and codes for star cluster dynamics
- High-performance computing in stellar dynamics simulations
- Gravitational few-body dynamics
- State-art-of-the-art in binary and multiple stellar evolution and population synthesis

• Observational properties of dense stellar systems in different environments

- Multiwavelength photometric and spectroscopic observations of star clusters in the Milky Way and beyond
- Multiple stellar populations in globular cluster
- Kinematic properties of Milky Way star clusters

• Formation of dense stellar systems across cosmic time

- Dense molecular clouds and gas-embedded stellar systems
- Hydrodynamical simulations of star cluster formation
- The link between star clusters and galactic archeology
- Formation and growth of nuclear star clusters and their link to massive black holes
- Star clusters in cosmological zoom simulations

• Stellar multiplicity, exotica, and transients in star clusters

- Binary systems and higher order multiples
- Formation and evolution of blue straggler stars, X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, and millisecond pulsars in star clusters
- Tidal disruption and other transient events in dense stellar environments
- Brown dwarfs, planetary systems and interstellar objects in star clusters

• Compact objects and gravitational wave sources

- Fate of compact objects in star clusters
- Dynamical formation channels of gravitational wave sources
- Observational signatures of dynamically formed gravitational wave sources and differences with other formation channels
- Upcoming and planned gravitational wave observatories and their astrophysical importance