Monash Centre for Astrophysics launched

Understanding the Universe is the mission of the recently launched Monash Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA). 

Formerly the Centre for Stellar and Planetary Astrophysics, the Centre was re-named to better reflect the diversity of research being carried on there. 

MoCA Director  Professor John Lattanzio said the centre was much more than stars and planets.

“There are currently nine research groups within MoCA, looking at a variety of mysteries, including dark matter, the formation of the solar system and other stars and planets, the lives of individual stars and whole galaxies, wormholes, sunquakes and more," Professor Lattanzio said.

”Astrophysics is a much broader field than many people realise and we’re a very active research community – there’s a lot left to discover.” 

Professor Lattanzio said MoCA is actively involved in the scientific community, running a weekly seminar program, hosting a number of conferences and actively building research collaborations

“A new endeavour within the Centre is the Kevin Westfold Distinguished Visitor Program, which will commence in 2012. Named after the University’s Foundation Professor of Astronomy, the program will allow us to host a number of leading academics each year.”

Four researchers, hailing from Hawaii, Italy, the UK and Canada, will visit MoCA in 2012. They will work with MoCA researchers on better understanding phenomena such as space weather and thermonuclear bursts.

For more information, visit the MoCA website.