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The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is dedicated to astrophysical questions ranging from the exploration of our Sun to the evolution of the cosmos. It focuses on the study of stellar, solar and exoplanetary physics, extragalactic astrophysics and the development of research technologies in the fields of spectroscopy, robotic telescopes and E-science.
A new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy has been discorved in the vicinity of Andromeda (M31), the Milky Way’s large neighbouring galaxy. The study suggests that the galaxy named And XXXVI is one of the faintest satellite galaxies discovered around Andromeda to date.
On Thursday, a new lecture from the virtual Babelsberg Starry Nights series will be published on YouTube: Dr. Daniel Sablowski will present how astronomers are “Analysing light” (in German). The video will be available from 18th June, 8 pm, on the YouTube channel “Urknall, Weltall und das Leben” (Big Bang, Universe and Life).
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.
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.
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.
A new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy has been discorved in the vicinity of Andromeda (M31), the Milky Way’s large neighbouring galaxy. The study suggests that the galaxy named And XXXVI is one of the faintest satellite galaxies discovered around Andromeda to date.
On Saturday the 26th of September 2026, the Telegrafenberg will welcome visitors for an open day from 12 pm to 5 pm. The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences and the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) invite the public to get a close-up look at the ‘Albert Einstein’ Science Park and the top-level research carried out there.
On Thursday, a new lecture from the virtual Babelsberg Starry Nights series will be published on YouTube: Dr. Daniel Sablowski will present how astronomers are “Analysing light”. The video will be available from 18th June, 8 pm, on the YouTube channel “Urknall, Weltall und das Leben” (Big Bang, Universe and Life).
Figuring Out Gas & Galaxies In Enzo (FOGGIE). XIV. The Observability of Emission from Accretion and Feedback in the Circumgalactic Medium with Current and Future Instruments
Saeedzadeh, V., ... Augustin, R., ...
The Astrophysical Journal, 1004, 1, 9 – Published June 2026
Thermal background reduction for mid-infrared imaging by low-rank background and sparse point-source modelling: Quantitative and qualitative demonstrations on ground-based VISIR and airborne SOFIA time series
Moens, R. A. R., Pietrow, A. G. M., Brandl, B., Van de Plas, R.
Astronomy and Astrophysics, 710, A150 – Published June 2026
FOGGIE: Figuring Out Gas and Galaxies In Enzo. XII. The Formation and Evolution of Extended H I Galactic Disks and Warps with a Dynamic Circumgalactic Medium
Trapp, C. W., ... Augustin, R., ...
The Astrophysical Journal, 1003, 2, 186 – Published June 2026
Speaker: Dr. Nitin Yadav (Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi) Title: From Photospheric Vortices to Torsional Alfvén Waves: Pathways for Energy Transport in the Solar Atmosphere