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. More info.

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. More info.
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft has been successfully launched on its journey to the Sun. At 5.03 a.m. Central European Time, the probe took off today from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral (USA) on board an Atlas V 411 rocket. A little over an hour later, at about 6.25 a.m., the decisive signal was received: the two solar panels were successfully unfolded; the expedition to the Sun has begun. MPS has contributed hardware to four of the ten scientific instruments on board Solar Orbiter.

Solar Orbiter successfully launched

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft has been successfully launched on its journey to the Sun. At 5.03 a.m. Central European Time, the probe took off today from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral (USA) on board an Atlas V 411 rocket. A little over an hour later, at about 6.25 a.m., the decisive signal was received: the two solar panels were successfully unfolded; the expedition to the Sun has begun. MPS has contributed hardware to four of the ten scientific instruments on board Solar Orbiter.

Prof. Dr. Johannes Geiss, Honorary Director of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern and External Scientific Member of MPS, passed away on 30 January, 2020. He was 93 years old. With Johannes Geiss, European space research loses a unique and visionary leader.

In memory of Johannes Geiss

Prof. Dr. Johannes Geiss, Honorary Director of the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern and External Scientific Member of MPS, passed away on 30 January, 2020. He was 93 years old.

With Johannes Geiss, European space research loses a unique and visionary leader.
On 10 February, the Solar Orbiter solar mission is scheduled to launch into space. Equipped with 10 scientific instruments, the ESA probe will venture to a distance of only 42 million km from the Sun. Solar Orbiter will also leave Earth's orbital plane and investigate the poles of the Sun for the first time. Through the combination of a novel trajectory and powerful instrumentation, the probe will provide the most comprehensive view of the Sun to date. The MPS is providing hardware for four instruments to this journey to the Sun.

Expedition to the Sun's Fire

On 10 February, the Solar Orbiter solar mission is scheduled to launch into space. Equipped with 10 scientific instruments, the ESA probe will venture to a distance of only 42 million km from the Sun. Solar Orbiter will also leave Earth's orbital plane and investigate the poles of the Sun for the first time. Through the combination of a novel trajectory and powerful instrumentation, the probe will provide the most comprehensive view of the Sun to date. The MPS is providing hardware for four instruments to this journey to the Sun.

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.

more

Planets and Comets

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.

more

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.

more

IMPRS

PhD programme: International Max Planck Research School for Solar System Science at the University of Göttingen.

more

Staff at the MPS

Staff directory and information for staff members and new employees at the institute.

more

Restaurant at the End of the Universe

Canteen at the MPS
Mon - Fri 9 - 13
This week's menu

more

News


Seminars

Planetary Group Seminar: Landing on an asteroid: Ryugu as seen by MASCOT (S. Schroeder)

Feb 19, 2020 16:00 - 17:00
MPS, Room: Auditorium

ESP Online Seminar: Learning to Invert Solar Flares with RADYN Physics

Feb 20, 2020 11:00 - 12:00
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Aquila + Bootes

Der Sonne so nah: Solar Orbiter: Startschuss für eine Sonnenmission der Extreme (Joachim Woch)

Feb 20, 2020 19:00 - 20:00
Max-Plack-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Room: Auditorium

Press Releases

Solar Orbiter successfully launched

February 10, 2020

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft has been successfully launched on its journey to the Sun. At 5.03 a.m. Central European Time, the probe took off today from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral (USA) on board an Atlas V 411 rocket. A little over an ...

Solar Orbiter space probe

February 07, 2020

On 10 February, the Solar Orbiter solar mission is scheduled to launch into space. Equipped with 10 scientific instruments, the probe of the European Space Agency (ESA) will in the coming years venture to a distance of only 42 million km from the ...

In Memory of Johannes Geiss

February 06, 2020

Merger of Milky Way with dwarf galaxy dated

January 13, 2020

The dwarf galaxy Gaia-Enceladus collided with the Milky Way probably approximately 11.5 billion years ago. A team of researchers including scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Germany for the first time used a ...

Job Offers

Post-doctoral positions in Solar Physics

February 17, 2020

Optical Design Engineer

December 04, 2019

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

Web-View
Print Page
Open in new window
Estimated DIN-A4 page-width
Go to Editor View