Astrophysics is the attempt to understand the physical processes at work in the Universe. It deals with questions such as, how do stars and galaxies form and evolve, and how are the components of a galaxy related to each other?
Stars, galaxies and gas clouds emit not only visible light but also radio waves, gamma rays, X-rays, and infrared radiation. Radio astronomers collect and process radio waves to make pictures of objects in space.
When the Americans eventually send a manned mission to Mars, the whole world will be able to watch ‘live’ television coverage of the event courtesy of CSIRO know-how.
Working from China, CSIRO astronomers have remotely controlled telescopes in three countries and streamed their data to CSIRO’s Parkes Observatory in New South Wales for processing in real time.
The HI Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS) project gave us the first ever view of the Local Universe unobscured by galactic foreground stars and dust and mapped out the whole sky out to distances of about 150 megaparsecs.
An international team led by CSIRO astronomers is mapping the hydrogen gas in the Milky Way in unprecedented detail. This will help them learn more about how our galaxy formed.
CSIRO astronomers, using the Australia Telescope, have the skills to observe and understand cosmic objects ranging from forming stars to distant galaxies.
CSIRO’s Dr Naomi McClure-Griffiths has been dubbed the 'galactic octopus wrestler' after discovering a new spiral arm of the Milky Way and in this video podcast, she describes how it feels to uncover the secrets of the Galaxy. (3:10)
In this video discover how the Australia Telescope Compact Array is assisting astronomers to better understand black holes and the evolution of our universe. (6:00)
As a member of the project team working on the Square Kilometre Array, Mr Aaron Chippendale is bringing us a step closer to learning the secrets of life, the universe and everything.
As International SKA Project Engineer, CSIRO astronomer and engineer Dr Peter Hall is helping Australia play a leadership role in the development of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the next generation radio telescope.
CSIRO runs an interactive Space program for Pre-school to Year 2 students in the Northern Territory. Our post-visit teacher resources help your students get the most out of the workshop.
CSIRO runs an interactive Space program for students in the Northern Territory from Pre-School to Year 2. Download the pre-visit teacher resources to get the most from our visit to your school. (6 pages)
