The Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto - CAUP) is the largest
astronomy research institute in
Portugal, with more than 60 people. Since 2000 it has been evaluated as Excellent by international panels, organized under the auspices of the national science foundation (
Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT), which was created in May 1989 by the
Universidade do Porto. It is a private research institute, non-profit making and recognized as being of public utility by the Portuguese Government.
Its objectives include the promotion and support of astronomy through
* research
* education at graduate and undergraduate levels
* activities for primary and secondary schools
*
science outreach
Science outreach, also called Education and Public Outreach (EPO or E/PO) or simply public outreach, is an umbrella term for a variety of activities by research institutes, universities, and institutions such as science museums, aimed at promoting ...
and the popularisation of astronomy
CAUP is responsible for the scientific management of the
planetarium
A planetarium ( planetariums or ''planetaria'') is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation.
A dominant feature of most planetarium ...
of Porto.
Research teams
Origin and Evolution of Stars and Planets-
and Early Evolution; Planetary Systems (
Exoplanets); Stellar Populations and
Stellar Evolution
Stellar evolution is the process by which a star changes over the course of time. Depending on the mass of the star, its lifetime can range from a few million years for the most massive to trillions of years for the least massive, which is cons ...
Galaxies and Observational Cosmology- Physical properties of massive
galaxies
A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. ...
;
Galaxy cluster astrophysics;
Structure formation paradigms; Dynamical
dark energy; Varying
fundamental constants
In physics, a dimensionless physical constant is a physical constant that is dimensionless, i.e. a pure number having no units attached and having a numerical value that is independent of whatever system of units may be used.
For example, if one co ...
Directors
*
Maria Teresa V. T. Lago (1989–2005)
* Mário João P. F. G. Monteiro (2006–2012)
* Pedro Pina Avelino (2013–2014)
* João José F. G. A. Lima (2015–present)
References
External links
Official siteFacebookTwitterYoutube channelFaculty of Sciences of U.PortoUniversity of Porto
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University of Porto
Astronomy institutes and departments
Astrophysics institutes