About the Institute

 

 

The Institute for Astronomy, a research Institute within the Department of Physics at ETH, is located at the Hönggerberg Science City campus on the outskirts of Zurich.  It has around 60 staff and students and is organised into five research groups. These cover a diversity of topics including fundamental cosmology, the formation and evolution of galaxies, the dynamics of dark matter and the formation of stars and planets.

Our work ranges from observations, using the most powerful telescopes available on the ground as well as in space, to theoretical and numerical calculations. We are also developing new activities in instrumentation by growing our laboratory facilities.

Through the Department of Physics, we offer a wide range of classes: from introductory astrophysics at the Bachelors level, various specialised topics at the Masters level, to advanced research seminars for PhD students. Many members of our Institute are also engaged in public outreach activities.