Astrophysics

Astrophysics group at MSSL/UCL is active in a wide range of research area in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Our researches are driven by the MSSL space projects, but not restricted to them. The main themes of our research are seen below.

Welcome to the University College London (UCL) MSSL astrophysics group web-site. In synergy with MSSL's involvement in space science missions, members of the astrophysics group actively work on a wide range of astronomy and astrophysics.

Artist impression of an accreting supermassive black hole. The central black sphere is the event horizon of the black hole. The swirl of red-white material is the accretion flow onto the black hole, increasing in temperature as it approaches the event hor

Compact Objects

Research into the densest objects in the universe, including black holes and neutron stars and the fundamental physics associated with them.

Galaxy Formation & Evolution

We have experts in both the theoretical and observational sides of star formation in galaxies, chemical enrichment, AGN physics and mission data analysis.

Cosmology

Applying statistical and informatics techniques to observational data and developing new analysis techniques and methodologies for data extraction.

Exoplanets

We research the discovery and characterisation of extrasolar planets (exoplanets), to learn about their formation, architecture, occurrence, and atmospheric properties.

Theory

We apply physics and computational interpretation methods to seek general insight into exotic phenomena that are studied in space science.

Simulation of colliding galaxies. Credit: NCSA, NASA, B. Robertson, L. Hernquist

Computational Astrophysics

Developing numerical simulation code, GCD+ a chemodynamical modelling approach, to simulate the formation and evolution of the Milky Way.

Artists impression of Euclid. Credit: ESA

Astrophysics Space Missions

MSSL continues to play a key role in various space missions, both in terms of building instruments and making full use of the data once in-orbit.

Resources

Astrophysics Seminars

Connect with Astrophysics:
MSSL Astrophysics Blog
MSSL Astrophysics Instagram

Head of Astrophysics:
Prof. Mark Cropper
+44 1483 204 155
m.cropper@ucl.ac.uk