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Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

Our immediate cosmological surroundings are the research focus of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research: the solar system with its planets and moons, its comets and asteroids, and of course the Sun. The aim of the scientists is not only to theoretically model the workings of the solar system and simulate them on the computer, however. In close cooperation with their engineer colleagues, they also develop and build scientific instruments that investigate these celestial bodies. To do this, the institute collaborates with international space agencies such as NASA and ESA on numerous missions, such as Rosetta, Dawn, InSight, BepiColombo, JUICE, Solar Dynamics Observatory, STEREO, Solar Orbiter and PLATO.

It is organised in three departments: 

  • Department Planets and Comets
    This department investigates the deep interior, the surfaces, atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of planets and their moons, as well as comets and asteroids.
  • Department Solar and Stellar Interiors
    Methods of helioseismology are used in this department to explore the interior mechanisms of our star.
  • Department Sun and Heliosphere
    The focus of this department is the solar interior, the solar atmosphere, the solar magnetic field, the heliosphere, and the interplanetary medium, as well as solar radiation and solar energetic particles.

mps.mpg.de/en


Collaborate Research Center

  • Collaborative Research Center 963: Astrophysical flow instability and turbulence
    Partner institutions:
    GAUG, MPI DS, DLR, GWDG

Research Training Group

  • RTG 1351: Extrasolar planets and their host stars

Graduate Study Program

The MPS also hosts the following graduate study program:

  • International Max Planck Research School on Solar System Science

Joint Professorship

  • Astrophysics (Prof. Laurent Gizon) - with University

Research Infrastructure

  • Laboratory space comprising of 1600 square meters of cleanrooms,
  • 19 thermal-vacuum-chambers,
  • electronic laboratories,
  • an experimental hall for large instruments,
  • a vibrational test stand,
  • a mechanical design department,
  • and a mechanical workshop.

Work Life Resources

  • The International Office helps visiting scientists and employees from abroad take their first steps in their new surroundings. This includes help with visa matters, looking for an apartment and health insurance.
  • 8 guest apartments within the building + 12 additional guest apartments in the Philipp-Reis-Straße
  • Cantine
  • Day Care Facility for 15 children (ages: 0 – 6)
  • 2 parent-child-offices
  • Library
  • Buddy-service for PhD-students

News

© MPS, Imge of Saturn: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
01.11.2017
Saturn's Radiation Belts: A Stranger to the Solar Wind

The high energy proton population in the environment of Saturn develops independently of the solar wind - and thus in a...

 
A plume of dust from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, seen by the OSIRIS wide-angle camera on ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft on 3 July 2016. The plume originates from the Imhotep region.© ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
25.10.2017
Rosetta reveals dust jet

When comet 67P emitted a jet of dust into space in July 2016, five instruments from the Rosetta spacecraft were able to...

 
This set of photos from the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope reveals the binary nature of asteroid 288P and show comet-like features. These include a bright halo of material, called a coma, and a long tail of dust. © NASA, ESA, and J. Agarwal (Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research)
25.09.2017
Binary Asteroid 288P: A Class of its Own

An object with the name 288P is the only known active asteroid comprising two separate components.

 
Power play: Plasma at several thousand degrees rises from the Sun's interior, cools and sinks back down to the depths. Wherever strong magnetic fields restrain the plasma, dark sunspots are generated. Filamentary structures can be seen at the edges. The fields in these regions should actually be strong enough to prevent currents; they should therefore appear darker. Here, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research were able to demonstrate that the magnetic field is weakened in places. The plasma circulates and generates extended highly luminous structures that appear to rotate around their axes.  © Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Göttingen/Johann Hirzberger
28.08.2017
Unleashed magnetic power

The spots on the surface of our Sun bear witness to the activity in its interior

 
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Key Research Areas

The key research areas at the MPS are comprised of the following:

  • Planets and Comets
  • Sun and Heliosphere
  • Solar and Stellar Interiors
Contact

Max Planck Institute for
Solar System Research
Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 3
37077 Göttingen

+49 551 384 979-0
presseinfo@mps.mpg.de