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Research group

Astronomy Group

Night sky

Our research aims to better understand the nature of cosmic objects and the life cycle of stars including the impact of surrounding galaxies.

About

We examine how our universe works and answers some of the big questions surrounding it. We study planetary objects to understand the relationship between them and the interaction between the Sun and the magnetospheres and upper atmospheres of several planets.

Our work covers 3 areas:

Compact objects


We are a leading group in the UK researching the growth and evolution of compact objects. This includes white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes across their full mass scale. We use multiwavelength observations to examine the relationship between the phenomena of accretion and outflows. This is bringing us closer to understanding how some of the most extreme objects in the cosmos form, grow and change with time, and how they impact their surrounding galaxies.

Space environment physics


As part of the Astronomy group, the Space Environmental Physics group study the interaction between the Sun and the magnetospheres and upper atmospheres of several planets in the Solar System. For example, large-scale dynamics of magnetospheres and the behaviour of the aurora on the finest scales.

Time domain astronomy


We are leading large projects across the optical, infrared, X-ray and radio wavelengths studying the time-domain universe. This includes research that covers a range of astrophysical events. From supernovae and other cosmic explosions to variability from accretion onto black holes on the timescale of milliseconds.

We aim to discover new transient events in the sky and to use their characteristic variations to better understand extreme physics and the life cycles of stars. Find out more on our Supernova group page.

Research highlights

People, projects and publications

People

Mr Calvin Sykes PhD

Research Fellow

Professor Christian Knigge

Professor of Astrophysics

Research interests

  • accretion phenomena and associated outflows
  • cataclysmic variables
  • close binaries

Email: c.knigge@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Christopher Frohmaier

Senior Research Fellow

Email: c.frohmaier@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Daniel Kynoch

Research Fellow in AGN & Compact Obj Var

Dr Daniel Whiter

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Earth's aurora
  • Auroral acceleration and structuring mechanisms
  • Effects of auroral precipitation on the upper atmosphere

Email: d.whiter@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Professor Diego Altamirano

Professor

Email: d.altamirano@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Professor Francesco Shankar

Professor of Astrophysics

Research interests

  • Super-massive Black Hole Demography and Evolution
  • Galaxy Evolution: Spheroids and Bulges, Environment, High-redshift galaxies
  • Radio and Broad Absorption Line Active Galactic Nuclei

Email: f.shankar@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Imogen Gingell

Royal Society University Research Fellow

Email: i.l.gingell@soton.ac.uk

Address: B46, West Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ (View in Google Maps)

Dr Kamalam Thillaimaharajan

Research Fellow in Auroral Physics

Dr Konrad Steinvall

Research Fellow in Space Plasma Physics
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