Research in Astronomy

The Astronomy Department at the University of Maryland is one of the top ranked Astronomy Departments in the country. Research areas cover a broad range of topics stretching from our Solar System to our Galaxy, and the distant Universe. The department has strengths in areas of theoretical astrophysics and observational astronomy. We are partners in the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA) which is a world-class millimeter wavelength array. We also make use of major telescope facilities both in the optical and the radio regimes as well as the latest NASA satellites. Major collaborative programs exist with the Goddard Space Flight Center and the faculty participate in individual collaborations with colleagues throughout the country and the world.

Astrophysical Theory
Utilizing both analytical techniques and computer simulations, this group studies topics ranging from the formation of structure in the interstellar medium to star formation to the dynamics of small bodies in the solar system.
Contact: Prof Eve Ostriker (ostriker@astro.umd.edu , phone 301-405-1527)

The Laboratory for Millimeter Astronomy
The Laboratory for Millimeter Astronomy studies the formation of stars and their impact on the interstellar environment on scales from individual stars to entire galaxies. This group also has a major software role in the CARMA millimeter wavelength array, the world's largest and best facility of its type.
Contact: Prof. Lee Mundy (lgm@astro.umd.edu, phone 301-405-1529)

Extragalactic Research
Exploiting data from the latest space telescopes as well as premiere ground-based observatories, this group studies the high energy, violent events in the cores of galaxies, the structure of galaxies, and cosmological questions involving dark matter and dark energy.
Contact: Prof. Sylvain Veilleux (veilleux@astro.umd.edu, phone 301-405-0282)

High Energy Astronomy
This group works closely with the scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center to study phenomena observed at X-ray and Gamma-Ray wavelengths. The research seeks to understand the creation of and emission from neutron stars and black holes.
Contact: Prof. Cole Miller (miller@astro.umd.edu, phone 301-405-1037)

Planetary Research
This highly rated research group studies the smaller bodies in the solar system—asteroids, comets and small scale particles (e.g. Saturn’s rings). They led the NASA mission Deep Impact which sent a satellite to a comet and fired an impactor at the nucleus in order to study for the first time the interior of a comet, and they are currently playing leading roles in other NASA missions.
Contact: Prof. Michael A'Hearn (ma@astro.umd.edu, phone 301-405-6076)

Space Plasma Physics
This group studies the relationship between the plasma emanating from the Sun and space plasma in the Earth’s neighborhood. Computer simulations are matched to the observations from satellites in an effort to understand how the Sun creates space weather and influences phenomena in the Earths atmosphere.
Contact: Prof. Dennis Papadopoulos (kp@astro.umd.edu, phone 301-405-1526)