Astrophysics Research Centre
Staff in the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC) carry out research in a number of stellar, Galactic and solar system areas. They are an observational astronomy group employing both large ground-based telescopes and space observatories including the European Southern Observatory, Gemini and the Hubble Space Telescope. There is also a programme on the study of laboratory plasmas and their astrophysical counterparts. Their research is currently supported by several substantial PPARC and EPSRC grants.
Hot stars form an important component of their research programme. These stars have intrinsic brightnesses a million times that of their sun and they can be seen at great distances. They are burning their nuclear fuel very quickly and although they have large masses, they have lifetimes of only a few million years. Hence they are ideal for mapping the current chemical composition of their own and other galaxies. Planetary Nebulae are a transitory phase in the evolution of low/intermediate mass stars (note they have nothing to do with real planets!).
For more information, please visit http://star.pst.qub.ac.uk