Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Astronomy

Members of the staff are particularly interested in directing graduate research in the following subjects are Astronomy and astrophysics: Relativity and cosmology; dynamics of the interstellar gas; evolution of planetary systems; magneto hydrodynamics; nuclear astrophysics; gravitational theory; X-ray sources; black holes; chemistry of interstellar medium; high energy astrophysics. Atmospheric and ionospheric radio investigations: Dynamics of the atmosphere and ionosphere; incoherent electron scattering; refraction, scattering, and attenuation due to the inhomogeneous nature of the troposphere and ionosphere; propagation of radio waves and ionized media. Infrared and optical astronomy: Spectroscopic studies of the interstellar medium, external galaxies, Galactic Center, star formation; development of novel instrumentation; observations from ground-based and airborne telescopes. Planetary studies: Observational, theoretical, and laboratory studies of planetary atmospheres, surfaces, and interiors; origins of planetary systems; exoplanets; spacecraft investigations such as Galileo, Mars Surveyor Magellan, Cassini and MER; investigations of asteroids, comets, and ring systems; solar-system dynamics; dynamics of planetary atmospheres; exobiology and prebiological organic chemistry. Radio astronomy: Distribution and properties of galaxies; radar investigations of the planets and asteroids; solar radio observations; studies of gaseous nebulae; interstellar radio lines; radio galaxies, quasars, and pulsars; interstellar molecular clouds and star-forming regions. Space vehicle instrumentation: Instrumentation relating to solar-system exploration, including cameras and spectral mappers; infrared observations from airplanes and satellites. Graduate students in this field may be connected with the Cornell University Center for Radio physics and Space Research or the Cornell-operated National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, the site of the world's largest radar-radio telescope. Students often conduct thesis or dissertation research at Palomar or Arecibo, or at other major observatories. In addition, members of the department are PIs on the Mars Rover NASA mission and the Spitzer Infrared Telescope, which is the last of the four NASA great observatories (Hubble, Chandra and Crompton GRO were the first three). Additional details on these organizations and facilities are in brochures available from the respective organizations or the graduate field office.