Astronomy and Astrophysical Chemistry at Nottingham

Welcome to the Astronomy & Astrophysical Chemistry Group

The Astronomy and Astrophysical Chemistry Group is part of the School of Chemistry at The University of Nottingham. Also involved in astronomical research at the university are the Astronomy Group in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

We are engaged in observational, modelling and laboratory spectroscopic-based research at the interface of astronomy, physics and chemistry. Current areas of interest cover ultraviolet, visible, infrared and radio studies of molecules and dust in interstellar, nebular, circumstellar and stellar media. The single largest project is research into the problem of the `diffuse interstellar absorption bands' which have remained unidentified since the first was discovered over 70 years ago, but we also conduct research on a wide variety of other topics including the 'Unidentified' IR Emission Bands, carbon and oxygen-rich refractory molecules in cool stars and stellar envelopes, and small-scale structure of the interstellar medium.

The Group has been awarded observing time on a range of telescopes including The United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT), The Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT), The William Herschel Telescope (WHT), Gemini South, Very Large Telescope (VLT), The Radcliffe Telescope (SAAO), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), and McDonald Observatory.

The University of Nottingham is a member of a consortium of UK institutions (UKSC), which is a founding partner in SALT - the Southern African Large Telescope. SALT is a 10 metre class telescope which was inaugurated in November 2005 at the Sutherland Observatory, South Africa. The University has its own guaranteed share of time on this world-leading research facility.