Astrophysics

The Sky Is No Longer the Limit.
At NCSA, we push the boundaries in a quest for answers that go well beyond our world.

From Copernicus to Galileo, early astronomers once used simple tools to explore the mysteries of the universe. Today we chart the movement of entire galaxies light-years from our own, using sophisticated data analysis and our vast computational resources to further global research and shine new light on the darkest corners of space.

NCSA’s Astrophysics Program Office provides vital services – including trainings and workshops – to help researchers develop their work from the individual level into large-scale projects. Leveraging expertise within NCSA and across the University of Illinois, collaborations span disciplines and venture beyond limited areas of astronomy to enable groundbreaking research.

Questions about NCSA’s work in astrophysics?

Joaquin Vieira
Senior Astrophysics Lead and Professor of Astronomy and Physics
jvieira@illinois.edu

Photograph from NASA's Hubble Telescope of various gases, dust, and stars in orange, burnt orange, yellow, and teal

Center for AstroPhysical Surveys

The Center for AstroPhysical Surveys (CAPS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign brings cohesion and advancement to astrophysical survey science efforts across campus. CAPS strives to create a diverse and inclusive environment by offering annual postdoctoral and graduate fellowship programs.

Explore CAPS

NCSA Spotlight

Robert Gruendl
Senior Research Scientist

Robert is an astronomer specializing in large-scale data processing and analyses and is currently working on the Dark Energy Survey, Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and DECADE projects.

“Over my career large astronomical surveys have already grown from catalogs of tens of thousands to nearly a billion objects. NCSA has provided the ecosystem of machines and people to tackle the computational and ensuing data problems that arise in the processing and analyses of modern astronomical surveys.“

Project Highlights

Dark Energy Survey

According to Einstein’s theory of general relativity, the expansion of the cosmos should be slowing, but science has shown it’s actually speeding up.

The South Pole Telescope

Where did the universe come from? And what is it actually made of? Researchers are exploring the answers to these questions and more with a special telescope located at the bottom of the world.

All Project Highlights