Astronomy & Astrophysics Program

Department of Physics & Astronomy

· The Astronomy Group

The Astronomy Group has 9 faculty, 5 research associates, 15-20 graduate students, and 40 undergraduate majors at any one time.

o Faculty Research Interests

o Research Associates & Research Faculty

o Graduate Students

· The SOAR 4.1m telescope

A superb new optical/IR telescope, designed for optimum image quality and located at one of the world’s best astronomical sites. MSU astronomers are guaranteed 40+ nights per year.

· The Spartan Infrared Camera

MSU is currently completing construction of the facility near-infrared imager for SOAR. This innovative instrument offers a 4096² pixel detector covering a wide field at extremely high resolution.

· The Center for the Study of Cosmic Evolution

An Interdisciplinary program bringing together nuclear physicists, particle physicists, and astronomers to study the Evolution of the Cosmos.

· Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics (JINA)

This NSF-funded center, operated jointly by the astronomy group and NSCL (the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory), supports research work by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Featuring a new course structure emphasizing early entry into research as well as a solid grounding in the tools of the trade. We offer impressive research opportunities in observational and theoretical astrophysics, and in nuclear astrophysics.