New stellar motion measurements reveal that the Small Magellanic Cloud is expanding and out of equilibrium due to interactions with the Large Magellanic Cloud. A new study presents the most detailed map yet of stellar motions, uncovering clear evidence that the nearby dwarf galaxy is being stretched and disrupted even in its central region by gravitational interactions from its larger neighbour.

[more]

The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and the Centro Astronómico Hispano en Andalucía, Observatorio de Calar Alto (CAHA), jointly celebrate 25 years of operation of PMAS, the Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrophotometer: It was on May 29th, 2001, when the PMAS team, supported by CAHA staff, achieved First Light for the then new instrument at the 3.5m Telescope on Calar Alto.

[more]

Two new studies have measured the expansion of the Universe in our immediate cosmic neighborhood using a novel method that analyzes the motion of two nearby galaxy groups within their surrounding cosmic flow. The results indicate that the local Universe is expanding more slowly than previously estimated.

[more]

Cosmic events are determined by two natural forces: gravity and magnetic fields. The magnetic field research at the AIP is mainly focused on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, the magnetically induced activities on the Sun and the stars, solar coronaphysics as well as space weather in our solar system and on planets around other stars.

[more]

Galaxies are fundamental cosmic building blocks. At the largest scales, they serve as markers to study the distribution of matter in the universe - active galaxies and quasars are particularly important because of their intrinsic brightness. Nearby objects can be spatially resolved and consist of populations with very different patterns of motion, star formation histories and chemical abundances.

[more]