Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

At the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA), we investigate the cosmos, its structure, and evolution at all spatial scales. Some of the questions the astronomers try to answer are: How did the first galaxies and stars form and evolve? What is the role of black holes in the evolution of galaxies and the interstellar medium from which new stars are born? What conditions and processes lead to the birth of new stars? How do planets form? What kind of planets are out there, and are there any of them potentially sustaining life? How did life evolve on Earth? The scientists’ expertise comprises disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. For their research, MPIA astronomers employ observations with telescopes, computers to model complex systems and processes, and lab experiments to mimic chemical reactions in space. The MPIA, founded in 1969, is part of the Max Planck Society. MPIA scientists use state-of-the-art research facilities worldwide, both on the ground and in space, to which the institute supplies instrumentation like cameras and spectrographs. Over the years, MPIA’s engineers have acquired unique and valuable experience building instrumentation for telescopes, which is highly demanded by numerous domestic and international partners.