Astronomers at Queen’s University Belfast will use a coordinated programme of telescope observations and computer models to study everything from the Sun’s turbulent atmosphere to exploding stars in distant galaxies. The work spans solar physics, comets and asteroids that could strike Earth, the chemistry of star-forming regions, massive hot stars, planets orbiting other suns, and supernovae that seed galaxies with dust and heavy elements. Much of this is fundamental science: there is no immediate practical application. But understanding solar activity helps predict space weather that can knock out satellites and power grids. Tracking near-Earth objects is the only way to assess whether an asteroid might hit us. And studying exoplanets—including possible Earth-sized worlds—addresses the basic question of whether our planet is unique. Past fundamental astrophysics has given us technologies from GPS timing corrections to medical imaging detectors. This programme fills gaps in knowledge about how stars live and die, how planetary systems form, and what hazards lurk in our own solar neighbourhood.
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We propose a co-ordinated programme of observational and theoretical astrophysics, involving the study of astronomical sources ranging from the Sun to supernovae in distant galaxies. Major Themes which will be covered by our Rolling Grant programme include: solar physics, in particular the use of high-cadence imaging to study activity and variability in the solar atmosphere and how these affect energy transport; the investigation of solar system bodies, including comets and asteroids and in particular Near-Earth Objects, which may represent an impact hazard to the Earth; astrochemistry, specifically the development of theoretical models of star formation regions and circumstellar discs, including those which may form planets; studies of hot stars, both young massive OB-type objects and those at an evolved stage of evolution, such as post-Asymptotic Giant Branch stars; the discovery and characterisation of planets orbiting stars other than the Sun (exoplanets), including possible Earth-sized objects; studies of supernovae and their progenitor stars, and how they influence galaxy evolution through dust production and chemical enrichment.
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