At MPIA two distinct aspects of scientific research are prioritized within the institute. The first area is concerned with the topics surrounding the question: Is the Sun with its life-harboring planet Earth unique or can conditions suitable for life also be found around other stars, at least around the numerous solar-like ones? This topic forms the basis of the institutes Formation and the evolution of Stars and Planets research department. The second research department is concerned with the topic of galaxies and cosmology and in particular the evolution of the galaxy into its current state from the Big Bang. These two research departments are described in further detail on the following pages. The Planet and Star Formation (PSF) department of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy is headed up by Thomas Henning and has around 80 scientists researching a number of projects. A combination of observations from large ground based telescopes along with a range of space based observations; computerized simulations & theoretical models and lab-based experiments are undertaken within the department. The main research interests of the PSF are the birth and evolution of stars and planetary systems based on the interaction of physical processes within interstellar medium.

 

The second group of researchers at MPIA is the Galaxies and Cosmology (GC) Department. The group consists of around a total of 60 people – with a combination of scientists and students. The group is involved and engaged in a number of projects – both observational and theoretical along with the design and construction of instrumentation to ensure the research aims and objectives are possible. The GC group are mainly interested in finding out how the Universe originated and evolved to what we know today. Their research stems from the fact that the present day universe originated from the initial conditions following the big bang and arises from three main factors: The consequences of gravitational instability, driven by yet-undiscovered dark matter.The expansion of the Universe currently accelerated by mysterious Dark Energy.The concentration of atomic matter at the centers of dark matter halos, where it is thought galaxies form. With these factors in mind the GC group are attempting to answer the following research questions in order that a greater understanding may be obtained: What dark matter and dark energy may be?When and how galaxies formed?Why galaxies have big black holes at their centers, and how those black holes grow?How gas gets turned into stars in galaxies?How we can diagnose dark matter in and around galaxies, including our own Milky Way?What is there in the intergalactic space between galaxies?