Welcome to the Keele Astrophysics Group which is part of the EPSAM Research Institute and the School of Physical and Geographical Sciences of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

The Keele Astrophysics group currently consists of 10 academic staff members, with research interests including star formation and stellar clusters, late stellar evolution, massive stars and their impact on the early universe, the interstellar medium, binary stars, interacting binary stars, and the detection of extra-solar planets.

Post-Doctoral Position Available in Active Galactic Nuclei

The Astrophysics group has a post-doctoral position available to work with Dr James Reeves and colleagues in order to pursue a research program on high-energy observations of AGN. The position is available for a maximum of 3 years duration with a likely start date of October 2012.
Further details of the post are available at http://www.keele.ac.uk/vacancies/academicandresearchvacancies.
Informal enquiries can be sent to James Reeves at jnr@astro.keele.ac.uk.

Applicants interested in the position should submit an application form, a CV including a brief statement of research interests with publications list to vacancies@keele.ac.uk. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2012. Please quote reference number RE12/03WS when applying.

Keele Observatory turns 50! All are warmly invited to join our celebrations on Saturday 19 May 2012 in an exciting programme of talks followed by a Sun and Star Party. For more details see the What's On link.

Keele Astronomers find Solid Buckyballs in Space

Using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, a team of astronomers led by Nye Evans and including Jacco van Loon of the Keele Astrophysics Group has detected solid buckminsterfullerne (C60) in space for the first time. The buckminsterfullerne molecules are spherical, like soccer balls, and in solid form they stack like "oranges in a crate", as shown in the illustration. The "buckyballs" are found in the environment of a star called XX Ophiuchi, which is about 6500 light years from Earth.

Follow this link for further details

PhD Studentships

We have PhD studentships available to start in October 2012. If you are interested in being a PhD student in astrophysics at Keele you might like to also read about our research interests and browse the list of available Astrophysics Projects. Further information about the University can be found in the Applications section of the Graduate School website. If you require any further information or would like to visit please contact us: postgrad@astro.keele.ac.uk.

Stargazing LIVE was back at Keele

Keele Observatory took part again in the second edition of BBC2's Stargazing Live, which is based around a series of television programmes presented by Brian Cox and Dara O'Briain. The observatory opened its doors from Monday 16 January through to Thursday 19 January, 2012. Most of the approximately one thousand visitors were able to witness the activity on the Sun's surface during daytime, or watch the clouds on planet Jupiter and its four large moons through the 138-year old gigantic "Oxford refractor" in the evening. Astronomers were at hand to answer questions and to offer tours of the observatory including its powerful research telescope.

For more information see http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/Observatory.

UK - Iran meeting at Keele Hall

On Tuesday 23 August, astronomers from Iran met their British colleagues at a meeting in Keele Hall, sponsored by the Royal Astronomical Society. "Building Bridges: cooperation of UK and Iranian astronomers" aimed at exchanging scientific and cultural ideas and fostering joint projects. The meeting was opened by Deputy Vice Chancellor Rama Thirunamachandran, who commented on the globalization of the academic world. The seminars that followed, mostly by Iranian speakers, described the rich scientific tradition and vibrant current activity in Iran, their plans for a national observatory, and a range of diverse scientific projects many of which contain elements of collaboration with scientists in Britain including at Keele. Delegates endulged in an Iranian-inspired lunch, and took advantage of the fair weather to enjoy Keele Hall's gardens as well as spectacular views of the Sun's activity through Keele Observatory's solar telescope, along with its 137-year old telescope and modern 60cm research telescope.

Details of the meeting are posted at http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/iran/