Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

The research focus of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research is our cosmic neighborhood: the solar system with its planets and moons, comets and asteroids as well as the sun. The aim of the scientists is to describe the processes in the solar system in models and to simulate them on the computer. In addition, instruments are being developed and built to study these bodies from space. The Institute is involved in numerous space missions.

Alexander Chizhevsky Medal for MPS Scientist

Alexander Chizhevsky Medal for MPS Scientist

For his research findings on the historical activity of the Sun, the European Space Weather and Space Climate Association has honored Dr. Theodosios Chatzistergos from the MPS with the Alexander Chizhevsky Medal. In his research, the scientist looks into the past of our star and uses historical records and observational data to reconstruct how solar activity has developed over decades and centuries.

Award for MPS-Director

Award for MPS-Director

The Solar Physics Division of the European Physical Society has honored MPS Director Prof. Dr. Sami K. Solanki with the Zdenĕk Švetska Senior Prize. The award recognizes the leading role that the Göttingen scientist has for decades played in solar research. During this time, Solanki not only enriched his field of research with significant results regarding the Sun's magnetism and activity, but also played a key role in shaping and advancing crucial space missions.

 

A New Birthplace for Asteroid Ryugu

A New Birthplace for Asteroid Ryugu

Asteroid Ryugu possibly did not travel as far from its place of origin to its current near-Earth orbit as previously assumed. New research suggests that Ryugu was formed near Jupiter. Earlier studies had pointed to an origin beyond the orbit of Saturn. Four years ago, the Japanese space probe Hayabusa 2 brought samples of Ryugu back to Earth. Researchers led by the MPS have now compared which types of nickel are found in these samples as well as in typical carbon-rich meteorites.
 

Diving into Mercury's Magnetosphere

Diving into Mercury's Magnetosphere

During its flyby of Mercury in June 2023, the space probe BepiColombo succeeded in taking new measurements in the planet’s magnetosphere. BepiColombo passed through Mercury's magnetic shield for around 30 minutes, allowing the scientific instruments on board to determine the distribution and properties of charged and uncharged particles there. A group of researchers including MPS scientists report on the results in the journal Communications Physics.

Research Departments

Sun and Heliosphere
The focus of this department is the solar interior, the solar atmosphere, the solar magnetic field, the heliosphere, and the interplanetary medium, as well as solar radiation and solar energetic particles. The balloon-mission Sunrise, a balloon-borne solar observatory, is managed by this department. The mission investigates our central star from a height of about 35 km. In addition to several other participations in space missions, the department significantly contributes to the ESA's Solar Orbiter.
Planetary Science Department
This department investigates the interior, the surfaces, atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of planets and their moons, as well as comets and asteroids. The department currently contributes or has contributed to important space missions such as the ESA's missions JUICE to the Jovian system, BepiColombo to Mercury and Rosetta to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko as well as NASA's missions InSight to Mars and Dawn to the asteroid belt.
Solar and Stellar Interiors
Helioseismology and asteroseismology are tools that use the oscillations of the Sun and stars to probe their interior structure and dynamics. This allows us to test and refine the theory of stellar structure and evolution, thereby bringing us closer to understanding solar and stellar magnetism. The department hosts the German Data Center for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, and is preparing to host the data center of ESA's exoplanet hunting mission, PLATO.

At a Glance

International Office
On the pages of the International Office, new employees and guests will find information for their stay in Göttingen and at the institute.
IMPRS
PhD programme: International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science at the University of Göttingen.
Staff at the MPS
Staff directory
Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Canteen at the MPS
Mon - Fri 9 - 13
This week's menu

News

Seminars

S3 Seminar: Tools talks

Nov 13, 2024 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Hörsaal

S3 Seminar: Experimental investigation of silicate sulfidation kinetics (Rody Erftemeijer)

Nov 20, 2024 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Hörsaal

S3 Seminar: Modelling the magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune (Carolin Meyer)

Nov 20, 2024 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Hörsaal

S3 Seminar: Dust coagulation in wind driven protoplanetary disks (Vignesh Vaikundaraman)

Nov 20, 2024 03:00 PM - 03:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: A+B+C

S3 Seminar: Tools talks

Nov 27, 2024 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Hörsaal

S3 Seminar: Detecting False Positives for PLATO (Fernando Canales)

Dec 11, 2024 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Hörsaal

News

For his research findings on the historical activity of the Sun, the European Space Weather and Space Climate Association has honored Dr. Theodosios Chatzistergos from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany with the ...

Award for MPS-Director

October 28, 2024

The Solar Physics Division of the European Physical Society (EPS) has honored Prof. Dr. Sami K. Solanki, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), with the Zdenĕk Švetska Senior Prize. The award recognizes the leading role ...

During its third flyby of Mercury in June 2023, the European-Japanese space probe BepiColombo succeeded in taking new measurements in the planet’s magnetosphere. BepiColombo passed through Mercury's magnetic shield for around 30 minutes, allowing the ...

Asteroid Ryugu possibly did not travel as far from its place of origin to its current near-Earth orbit as previously assumed. New research published today in the journal Science Advances suggests that Ryugu was formed near Jupiter. Earlier studies ...

Job Offers

Please also have a look at the job offers at the web pages in German.

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