The astronomy group within the Department of Physics & Astronomy is involved in a wide range of teaching and research activities. Research interests cover two broad themes, the building blocks of galaxy evolution, and high time resolution astrophysics. The first observational sub-group encompasses the properties, formation and evolution of massive stars - including black holes - star clusters, starbursts and the triggering/feedback effect of Active Galaxies. The high time resolution astrophysics sub-group exploit the ULTRACAM and ULTRASPEC instruments. Our observational strength is reflected by success with allocations on heavily oversubscribed ground-based (VLT, Gemini) and space-based (Hubble, Spitzer) telescopes. This is underpinned by growing theoretical interest, including simulations of star formation and star cluster evolution. Our Department was ranked joint 7th in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, which also noted the world-leading output of our group. A list of PhD projects for prospective postgraduate students for Autumn 2010 entry is available here.

We teach three and four-year degree programmes in either Physics & Astrophysics or Maths & Astronomy. Undergraduates have access to the rooftop robotic imaging telescope ROSA, plus a 16 inch Meade telescope equipped with an imager and spectrograph. Annual field trips to the Teide Observatory on Tenerife are available, plus there is the opportunity for students to spend their final year working at the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes on La Palma. A broad range of undergraduate courses are available covering all aspects of astrophysics from the solar system, through stars and galaxies to cosmology, including lecture courses dedicated to astrobiology, dark matter and the history of astronomy.