Astrophysics Science Division

The Astrophysics Science Division supports the GSFC astrophysics projects by providing scientific leadership and supports a research program to achieve NASA's strategic science goals. The key questions addressed by the Divisions research programs include:

• How do galaxies, stars, and planetary systems form and evolve?
• What is the diversity of worlds beyond our solar system?
• Which planets might harbor life?
• What powered the big bang?
• What is Dark Energy?
• What happens to space, time and matter at the edge of a black hole?
• What are the cycles of matter & energy in the evolving universe?

  + Read more about the Astrophysics Science Division
  + Read more about our Laboratories

• Astroparticle Physics Lab
• X-ray Astrophysics Lab
• Gravitational Astrophysics Lab
• Observational Cosmology Lab
• Exoplanets & Stellar Astrophysics Lab

• Branches & Offices

IYA 2009

Links

Astronomy Picture of the Day	HEASARC Picture of the Week
+ ASD Annual Report

News Feature

Image Credit: KIPAC/SLAC/M. Alvarez, T. Abel and J. Wise

First Black Holes Kept to a Strict Diet, Study Shows A new supercomputer simulation designed to track the fate of the universe's first black holes finds that, counter to expectations, they couldn't efficiently gorge themselves on nearby gas. The findings have implications for understanding the formation of galaxies and of the giant black holes that reside in their centers.   + Read more   + Archive

Division News Aug 4 - An exciting new astrophysics mission will provide a revolutionary window into the universe. Named the Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS), the satellite will be the first to systematically measure the polarization of cosmic X-ray sources. (Read more) Jul 28 - MAXI was installed on the International Space Station last week, giving astronomers a new tool for finding flaring suns, black holes, and exploding stars. (Read more) Jul 27 - Dr. John Mather joined the Blueshift podcast to share his sense of what makes scientific data beautiful. Read more in Volume 5, Issue 6 of the Goddard View. Jul 27 - Jon Gardner (665) is featured in the Employee Spotlight in Volume 5, Issue 6 of the Goddard View. Jul 21 - The GEMS mission is featured in an article in the Summer 2009 issue of Goddard Tech Trends. Jul 1 - Congratulations to Kim Weaver, who was awarded the 2009 Distinguished Alumna Award from the Astronomy Department at the University of Maryland, for her efforts in promoting science. Read more in Volume 5, Issue 5 of the Goddard View. Jul 1 - The GEMS mission is featured in an article in Volume 5, Issue 5 of the Goddard View. Jun 19 - Congratulations to the GEMS (Gravity and Extreme Magnetism SMEX) team for being selected to enter Phase B - after a very tough competition. The mission will probe the space-time environment close to Black Holes, to test General Relativity in this extreme environment and study the most intense magnetic fields found in the Universe. Jun 12 - 100 Hours of Astronomy is featured in Volume 5, Issue 4 of the Goddard View. News Archive... Awards Archive... Press Release Archive...