Daniel Davies

January 2014

Max Plank Institute for Astronomy Visitors Guide

Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck - (April 23, 1858 October 4, 1947) was a German theoretical physicist who originated quantum theory, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918

The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg is part on the Max Planck Society. It is one of around 80 institutes that are part of the society. It was formed in 1967 on the basis that Germany would require an organization that has the ability to operate powerful telescopes to remain competitive in the field of astronomical research. Today if forms part of the world-renowned Centre of astronomical research in Heidelberg. The other sections of Centre include the Max Planck Institute of Nuclear Physics and the Centre for Astronomy at the University. Today The MPIA employs a total of around 250 people, including 130 scientists and technicians along with 50 junior and visiting scientists from around the World. Between 1973 and 1984 work was undertaken in partnership with Spanish Authorities to develop and from the German-Spanish Astronomical Centre (DSAZ), which is situated on the Calar Alto Mountain in Spain and is the largest facility within Europe. The MPIA is currently involved in the construction of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) and its control equipment that is situated high up on Mount Graham in the US. The LBT is the worlds largest telescope with two mirrors each with a diameter of 8.4m. This programme has been developed in collaboration with partners from Germany, Italy and the USA. The MPIA is also involved in the programme development of both the very large telescope (VLT) on Cerro Paranal in Chile. The institute is active in the world of astronomical observations from space with the use of rockets, space probes, balloons and satellites. Currently the development of new measuring instruments for both the European Herschel Telescope and the James Webb Space telescope are ongoing along with observational programmes based on the American Spitzer Telescope are also currently being supported closely by the MPIA.

Information:
Max-Planck-Institut fr Astronomie Knigstuhl 17 D-69117 Heidelberg Germany
Phone: ++49-(0)6221-528-0 Fax: ++49-(0)6221-528-246 E-mail: sekretariat@mpia.de Guided Tours Available to be Booked Monday to Friday

10:00am 4:00pm
(No Bookings on Friday Afternoons)

Currently the institute is undertaking three main functions: Researching current scientific questions The development of new measuring methods The preparation & analysis of astronomical observations

Research at MPIA
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. To support the research within the PSF cutting edge technologies are required to make sure the demands of observational techniques are met. A combination of ground based and sensitive space based instruments are used and developed to meet the demand paced on the department. With this in mind the scientists from the PSF are

A number of members of the institute are professors at the University of Heidelberg, this ensures that both organizations maintain a close working relationship. Students from within the department of Physics and Astronomy regularly attend practical research courses offered at the institute and others undertake the postgraduate research at the facility. The institute regularly publishes scientific results in a range of recognized journals and the monthly magazine titled Sterne und Weltraum, translated to Stars and Space is purposely edited with the general public in mind.

Star formation begins when the denser parts of the cloud core collapse under their own weight/gravity. These cores typically have masses around 104 solar masses in the form of gas and dust. The cores are denser than the outer cloud, so they collapse first. As the cores collapse they fragment into clumps around 0.1 parsecs in size and 10 to 50 solar masses in mass. These clumps then form into protostars and the whole process takes about 10 millions years.

involved with a number of high profile worldwide projects. The main focus of the PSF research is based on the fact that Star formation is a key process in the shaping and structure of the Universe; providing the chemical evolution of galaxies and allowing the conditions of planet formation to be possible. The main research objective of the PSF is to fully understand the different models of star formation, from highly complex star clusters to the more isolated groupings of lower mass stars. This research takes two forms; the first is concerned with the formation of planets starting with a dust grain and eventually resulting in giant planets into gas disks. Secondly, ranges of new search strategies are being developed to brown dwarfs and exoplanets with the objective of researching and evaluating their respective atmospheres.

MPIA PSF Research.

Instrumentation Projects
Instrumentation projects within MPIA are both varied in their complexity and numbers. Some may be considered classic astronomical equipment (cameras etc.), whilst others are far more complex in their design and use. The input also varies from being the main contributor in some projects to merely offering a supportive role in others. MPIA are able to offer services ranging from computer aided optical design to the development of state of the art equipment to detect even the Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that faintest galaxies.

is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve - Max Planck
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: 1. The consequences of gravitational instability, driven by yet-undiscovered dark matter. 2. The expansion of the Universe currently accelerated by mysterious Dark Energy. 3. 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

Calar Alto, ESO/Paranal & Wise Observatory

galaxies? The team at the GC department is heavily involved in the development of new and updated astronomical instruments as required for the progress in Astrophysics techniques. At this point they are concentrating on high-resolution and wide field survey instruments in the near infrared. It is envisaged that many of the new scientific questions posed by the scientific teams at MPIA will only be able to be considered and possible solutions offered when advancements in telescope technologies and far more precise measurements are possible. As previously mentioned MPIA are at the forefront of these developments developing these new technologies that will hopefully overcome the imitations of classical telescope design and the associated instrumentation. The basis of the developments is the introduction of ground based high angular resolution techniques including the use of adaptive optics and improved data processing algorithms. Due to the extreme and remote location of observatory sites along with the requirement of precise and optimum performance on these huge telescopes the demand for high level support services and systems is now essential. The teams at MPIA are heavily involved in multi-disciplinary scientific collaborations (including engineering teams) to hopefully further improve the astronomical instrumentation allowing the limits of observation to be pushed onwards and upwards. Examples of such collaborations include the ARGOS (Laser Guide Stars) and OVMS (Intelligent Vibration Sensors). 3

MPIA Current Projects.

LINC-NIRVANA Interferometric NIR camera at the LBT, which will deliver the sensitivity of a 12 m telescope and the spatial resolution of a 23 m telescope, over a field approximately 10-20 arcseconds square. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Tom Herbst (PI) PAnoramic Near-Infrared Camera for the 2.2m telescope on Calar Alto Observatory. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Josef Fried (PI) Optical path difference and Vibration Monitoring System for the LBT and its interferometers Contact Scientist at MPIA: Martin Krster (PI) ASTrometric and phase-Referenced Astronomy upgrade of the KECK near-infrared interferometer Contact Scientist at MPIA: Jrg-Uwe Pott Advanced Rayleigh guided Ground layer adaptive Optics System, the laser guide star for the LBT Contact Scientist at MPIA: Wolfgang Gssler Visible and near-infrared wide-field imager to map the geometry of the dark Universe, a planned ESA M-class satellite mission. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Knud Jahnke Multi-AO Imaging Camera for Deep Observations at the E-ELT Contact Scientist at MPIA: Jrg-Uwe Pott The Exoplanet Characterization Observatory Contact Scientist at MPIA: Oliver Krause The Universe in Motion. Precision Astrometry with VLT Interfermmeter. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Wolfgang Brander A mid-infrared imaging spectro-interferometer for the VLT Contact Scientist at MPIA: Thomas Henning Mid-infrared Instument for the James Webb Space Telescope Contact Scientist at MPIA: Oliver Krause Phase Referenced Imaging and Microarcsecond Astrometry with a Diferential Delay Line. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Ralf Launhardt High Contrast Adaptive Optics Instrument for finding an observing extra-solar Planets. Contact Scientist at MPIA: Oliver Marcus Feldt

PANIC

OVMS

How to get here?

ASTRA

ARGOS

EUCLID

MICADO

EChO

GRAVITY

MATISSE

MIRI

PRIMA-DDL

SPHERE

Scientific discovery and scientific knowledge have been achieved only by those who have gone in pursuit of it without any practical purpose whatsoever in view. Max Planck
4

Once at Bismarckplatz, which is considered the centre of town, follow signs direction Schlo (castle). Then, follow the signs Knigstuhl. At the junction at the top of the hill, please follow the sign Max-PlanckInstitut fr Astronomie. Turn left. Stay on the main road and follow sign Max-Planck-Institut fr Astronomie on the left. After about 100m turn right and follow the access road to the MPIA. The MPIA gate is open on working days from 6:30h to 18:45h. Max-Planck-Institut fr Astronomie Phone: ++49-(0)6221-528-0 Fax: ++49-(0)6221-528-246 E-mail: sekretariat@mpia.de

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