Editing Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics

{{Short description|Research institute located in Garching, Germany}}
[[File:MPI-Astrophysik 2016-08-15 1.jpg|thumb|Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics 2016]]
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The '''Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics''' ('''MPA''') is a research institute located in [[Garching bei München|Garching]], just north of [[Munich]], [[Bavaria]], [[Germany]]. It is one of many scientific [[Research institute|research institutes]] belonging to the [[Max Planck Society]].

The MPA is widely considered to be one of the leading institutions in the world for [[theoretical astrophysics]] research. According to [[Thomson Reuters]], from 1999-2009 the Max Planck Society as a whole published more papers and accumulated more citations in the fields of [[physics]] and [[space science]] than any other research organization in the world.<ref>[http://archive.sciencewatch.com/inter/ins/09/09Top20Overall/], Thomson Reuters Science Watch.</ref>

==History==
The [[Max Planck Society]] was founded on 26 February 1948. It effectively replaced the [[Kaiser Wilhelm Society]] for the Advancement of Science, which was dissolved after [[World War II]]. The society is named after [[Max Planck]], one of the founders of [[Quantum mechanics|quantum theory]].

The MPA was founded as the [[Max Planck Institute for Physics and Astrophysics]] in 1958 and split into the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics and the [[Max Planck Institute for Physics]] in 1991. In 1995, the [[numerical relativity]] group moved to the [[Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics]].

==Organization==
The MPA is one of several Max Planck Institutes that specialize in [[astronomy]] and [[astrophysics]]. Others are the [[Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics]] in Garching (located next-door to the MPA), the [[Max Planck Institute for Astronomy]] in Heidelberg, the [[Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy]] in Bonn, the [[Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research]] in Göttingen, and the [[Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics]] (a.k.a. Albert Einstein Institute) in Golm.

The institute is located next-door to the MPI for Extraterrestrial Physics, as well as the headquarters of the [[European Southern Observatory]]. It also enjoys close working relationships with the [[Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich]] and [[Technical University Munich]].

At any given time, the institute employs approximately 50 scientists, instructs over 30 [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] students, and hosts about 20 visiting scientists (some 60 visitors stay for longer than 2 weeks in any given year).

As of 2021, the four directors of the MPA are [[Selma de Mink]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Selma E. de Mink appointed as director at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics |url=https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/886432/news20210101?c=27838 |website=Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, press releases |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref> [[Guinevere Kauffmann]], [[Eiichiro Komatsu]], and [[Volker Springel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/science |website=Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Science |access-date=20 May 2021|title=Research }}</ref>

Previous directors include [[Ludwig Biermann]] (1958 – 75), [[Rudolf Kippenhahn]] (1975 – 91), [[Simon White]] (1994 – 2019), [[Rashid Sunyaev]] (1995 – 2018), [[Wolfgang Hillebrandt]] (1997 – 2009) and [[Martin Asplund]] (2007 – 2011).<ref>{{cite web |title=50 Years of Theoretical Astrophysics An excerpt from the brochure commemorating the 50th anniversary in 2008 The Founding Years under the Direction of Ludwig Biermann |url=https://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/781772/history |website=Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, History |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref>

==Science==
Focusing on theoretical investigations, the MPA covers a wide range of topics in [[astrophysics]]. These include:
* '''[[Physical cosmology|Cosmology]]''', in particular [[galaxy formation and evolution]], [[reionization]], and the [[cosmic microwave background]];
* '''[[High-energy astronomy|High-energy astronomy and astrophysics]]''', including [[supermassive black holes]], [[galaxy clusters]], [[active galactic nuclei]] and [[quasars]], [[X-ray binaries]], and [[accretion disc]]s;
* '''[[Stellar physics]]''', including [[stellar evolution]] and stellar explosions such as [[supernovae]] and [[gamma-ray bursts]].

==Public outreach==
The MPA works to explain astrophysical concepts and disseminate its findings to the public. These activities include popular science articles written by MPA scientists, events hosting school groups, events open to the general public, and monthly research highlights written for a general audience.

==Graduate program==
The International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Astrophysics is a graduate program offering a PhD in [[astrophysics]]. The school is a cooperation with the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Technical University Munich.

==External links==
* [http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de Homepage of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics] 
* [http://www.imprs-astro.mpg.de/  Homepage of the International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Astrophysics]

==References==
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[[Category:Max Planck Institutes|Astrophysics]]
[[Category:Astrophysics research institutes]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:Garching bei München]]