Excellence Cluster Success!
Excellence Cluster Success!

Astronomy at the University of Bonn

The Argelander-Institute for Astronomie (AIfA) is one part of the  Fachgruppe Physics and Astronomy and provides top-class research and excellent education.

The Institute's research groups focus on various areas of theoretical and observational astronomy - from stars to cosmology in national and international collaborations with other research institutions and large-scale astronomical projects.

With its own Master of Astrophysics course, the AIfA is involved in the education of young students alongside the Bachelor of Physics. Many international doctoral students are also trained, in part through the Bonn-Cologne Graduate School (BCGS).

News

Moving
© colourbox.de

We are on the move: Due to the renovation work currently carried out at AIfA, for a short period of time you may reach individual members in different offices (and phone numbers). Email addresses remain the same.

The life of central radio galaxies in clusters: AGN-ICM studies of eRASS1 clusters in the ASKAP fields
A recent study by Angie Veronica et al. uses galaxy group and cluster catalogs from the first eROSITA all-sky survey, together with radio observations from ASKAP, to explore how central supermassive black holes influence the largest objects in the Universe: galaxy clusters. At the centers of galaxy clusters, active supermassive black holes, also known as active galactic nuclei (AGNs), launch jets that can heat the surrounding hot gas. Understanding how effective this "AGN feedback" is has been a major effort in astrophysics. By analysing 151 galaxy clusters, the team finds that radio jets tend to grow larger where their host galaxy is not perfectly aligned with the cluster center, suggesting that the environment shapes jet evolution. They also detect a weak link between jet power and gas cooling in cluster cores. However, in the most massive galaxy clusters, the jets do not produce enough energy to balance the cooling. This indicates that additional heating sources may be needed to keep these systems stable.
The Euclid Consortium is releasing a new set of scientific publications based on the Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1)
In parallel to a new Euclid image release by ESA on the ‘Dark Cloud’ LDN 1641, the Euclid Consortium (EC) is today releasing a new set of seven scientific publications based on the Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1).
"Our dynamic universe" Cluster of Excellence is selected for funding.
On 22 May 2025, the application of the Cluster of Excellence ‘Our Dynamic Universe’ was approved for the next funding period from 2026.
GA interview: On new paths into the universe
An interview of the Bonner General-Anzeiger vom April 28 2025: “Proposal for a Cluster of Excellence: Astronomers want to explore new dimensions of simulating depth” by Martin Wein.  
Events
Der Stern S2 und das Schwarze Herz der Milchstraße
Hörsaal, Argelander-Insti...
07:00 PM - 09:30 PM
In the series "Bonner Sternenhimmel," a collaboration between the Argelander Institute for Astronomy (AIfA) , the Volkssternwarte Bonn and the Max Planck ...
Antrittsvorlesung von Professorin Serena Viti
Hörsaal VIII des ...
02:15 PM - 03:00 PM
On the occasion of Professor Dr. Serena Viti's appointment for a W3 Hertz Professorship in Astrochemistry, we cordially invite you to the Dies Academicus on ...
Astronomers for Planet Earth
Hörsaal, Argelander-Insti...
07:00 PM - 09:30 PM
In the series "Bonner Sternenhimmel," a collaboration between the Argelander Institute for Astronomy, the Volkssternwarte Bonn and the Max-Planck-Institute for ...
Astronomy on Tap
Fiddlers Pub (Frongasse ...
07:00 PM
The next Astronomy on Tap Bonn! event will take place on Tuesday, 25th November at 7:00 PM at The Fiddlers Pub (Frongasse 9, Endenich). Talks: "Der Stern ...

Organization

Hörsaal
Hörsaal Symbolbild © Colourbox

Physics-Astronomy Division

The Argelander Institute for Astronomy, together with the three physics institutes (PI, HISKP and AP), is part of the Physics-Astronomy Division.

Uni Bonn Globus
Universität Bonn © Volker Lannert

Math.-Nat. Faculty

The Argelander Institute is part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Bonn.

MPIfR Bonn
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie Bonn © privat

Max Planck Institute for Radioastronomy

The Argelander Institute and the Max Planck Institute share the joint research.

Contact

Management

Avatar Bigiel

Prof. Dr. Frank Bigiel

Director

1.021

Avatar Porciani

Prof. Dr. Cristiano Porciani

Deputy Director

1.017

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