Research at Leiden Observatory spans the full width of modern astrophysical enquiry. It is based on observation, theory, simulation, and experiment. Two broad clusters characterize the ongoing research. Within each theme, researchers carry out their personal and specialized research programme. The two clusters are: Galaxies and the structures in which they are embedded and Exoplanets, and the formation of stars and planets.

Galaxies and the structures in which they are embedded

Researchers at Leiden Observatory study the fundamental physics - the basic properties, materials and forces that create structure in the Universe. Which processes collect matter into galaxies and gas into stars? With the use of powerful telescopes and advanced calculations and computer simulations, the astronomers seek to understand the origin, structure and evolution of galaxies in general, and the Milky Way in particular. Through these structures they try to uncover the unknown physics of dark matter and dark energy that takes up 95% of the Universe.

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Exoplanets, and the formation of stars and planets

At Leiden Observatory, researchers investigate the origin of stars and their planetary systems. They detect and characterize planets around other stars (exoplanets) and study how stars and planets form, for instance by following molecules from interstellar clouds to nascent planetary systems. In this way they address questions about the origin of life and the possibilities of life existing on other planets than Earth. In other words, is Earth unique?

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NOVA

NOVA, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, coordinates and stimulates astronomical research in the Netherlands. See the NOVA website for more information. The astronomical institutes at the universities of Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden and Nijmegen together form NOVA.

The institute houses a number of facilities which support these themes:

The Leiden Observatory Optics Laboratory
The Leiden Observatory Laboratory for Astrophsyics
The European ALMA Regional Centre node Allegro
The METIS office

Research into the history of science in general and astronomy in particular is carried out by the History of Science group.