Center for Computational Astrophysics

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The Center for Computational Astrophysics's mission is to create new computational frameworks that allow scientists to analyze big astronomical datasets and to understand complex, multi-scale physics in astrophysical systems ranging in scales from planets to cosmology.

Increasingly more sophisticated ground-based observatories and space missions are collecting data to make tremendous discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics, but to make those discoveries will require the combined power of theory, data analysis and simulation. CCA’s mission is to develop the computational tools needed for these simulations and analyses.

Groups

The environment of NGG 1277. Credit: SDSS Collaboration

Astronomical Data The Astronomical Data group solves hard problems in measurement and discovery. Depending on the context, the challenges in these problems can stem from the sheer size or complexity of the datasets, the precision requirements for measurements, or the subtlety or structure of the signals of interest. Read More

Compact Objects The Compact Objects group studies the astrophysics of neutron stars and black holes, using them as unique cosmic laboratories for exploring the physics of extreme gravitational and electromagnetic fields and of matter at extreme densities. Read More

Cosmology X Data Science The Cosmology X Data Science group develops novel algorithms and ways of thinking to apply to datasets to answer fundamental questions about the cosmos. Read More

Synthetic Milky Way model Ananke/FIRE collaboration

Dynamics The Dynamics Group explores how collective dynamics driven by gravitational interactions shape structures — planets, stars and galaxies — in the universe. This topic sits at the crossroads between large observed and simulated datasets that describe these structures in the real and model universe. Read More

Galaxy Formation The Galaxy Formation group is developing the numerical tools and physical insights necessary to understand how galaxies form and evolve within a cosmological context. Read More

Gravitational Wave Astronomy The detection of gravitational waves from the merging binary black hole GW150914, followed by the (likely) binary black hole mergers LVT151012, GW151226, and GW170104, means the era of gravitational wave astronomy is upon us. Read More

Planet Formation The Planet Formation group develops the theoretical framework and computational methods needed to understand the origin and evolution of planets and planetary systems. Read More

News & Announcements

September 12, 2019

‘Ringing’ Black Hole Validates Einstein’s General Relativity 10 Years Ahead of Schedule By Thomas Sumner

July 30, 2019

Hundreds of New Exoplanets Found, Including 154 That ‘Reciprocally Transit’ (Scientific American Blog)

July 29, 2019

A Stellar Stream in the Milky Way Provides Evidence of Dark Substructure

Featured Events

October 2019

Event
CCA Colloquia Schedule

Multiple dates
All speakers are scheduled on Friday from 3:30-4:30pm unless otherwise noted.

162 Fifth Ave.
5th Floor Classroom

November 2019

Event
CCA Colloquia Schedule

Multiple dates
All speakers are scheduled on Friday from 3:30-4:30pm unless otherwise noted.

162 Fifth Ave.
5th Floor Classroom

Event
CCA Colloquia Schedule

Multiple dates
All speakers are scheduled on Friday from 3:30-4:30pm unless otherwise noted.

162 Fifth Ave.
5th Floor Classroom

December 2019

Event
CCA Colloquia Schedule

Multiple dates
All speakers are scheduled on Friday from 3:30-4:30pm unless otherwise noted.

162 Fifth Ave.
5th Floor Classroom

Conference
Universality: Turbulence Across Vast Scales

December 2-6, 2019
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

162 5th Avenue
2nd Floor Auditorium

Event
CCA Colloquia Schedule

Multiple dates
All speakers are scheduled on Friday from 3:30-4:30pm unless otherwise noted.

162 Fifth Ave.
5th Floor Classroom

Upcoming Events

September 2019

19 Thu
- Meeting 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Dynamics Group Meetings
- Meeting 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  Compact Objects Group Meeting
- Meeting 3:00 - 4:30 PM
  Galaxy Formation Group Meeting
24 Tue
- Meeting 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Extreme Precision Radial Velocity (EPRV) Working Group Meeting
25 Wed
- Meeting 12:30 - 1:30 PM
  Stars and Exoplanets Meeting
- Meeting 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  Planet Formation Group Meeting
- Meeting 3:00 - 4:00 PM
  Gravitational Waves Group Meeting
26 Thu
- Meeting 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  Dynamics Group Meetings
- Meeting 2:00 - 3:00 PM
  Compact Objects Group Meeting
- Meeting 3:00 - 4:30 PM
  Flatiron Computational Methods and Data Science Journal Club

Research Highlights

August 7, 2019

New regimes in the observation of core-collapse supernovae

M. Modjaz, CP Gutiérrez, I Arcavi

Core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) mark the deaths of stars more massive than about eight times the mass of the Sun and…

Nature Astronomy

July 24, 2019

In the Galactic disk, stellar [Fe/H] and age predict orbits and precise [X/Fe]

M. Ness, K. Johnston, K Blancato, HW Rix, A Beane, JC Bird, K. Hawkins

We explore the structure of the element abundance–age–orbit distribution of the stars in the Milky Way’s low-α disk, by (re-)deriving…

arXiv:1907.10606

June 7, 2019

Detecting Thin Stellar Streams in External Galaxies: Resolved Stars & Integrated Light

S. Pearson, T. Starkenburg, K. Johnston, BF Williams, RA Ibata

The morphology of thin stellar streams can be used to test the nature of dark matter. It is therefore crucial…

arXiv.:1906.03264

Director

David Spergel, Ph.D.

Director, CCA

David Spergel joined the foundation in 2016 to lead its Center for Computational Astrophysics. He is an astrophysicist with research interests ranging from the search for planets around nearby stars to the shape of the universe.

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Center for Computational Astrophysics

Groups

Projects

News & Announcements

Featured Events

CCA Colloquia Schedule

CCA Colloquia Schedule

CCA Colloquia Schedule

CCA Colloquia Schedule

Universality: Turbulence Across Vast Scales

CCA Colloquia Schedule

Upcoming Events

Dynamics Group Meetings

Compact Objects Group Meeting

Galaxy Formation Group Meeting

Extreme Precision Radial Velocity (EPRV) Working Group Meeting

Stars and Exoplanets Meeting

Planet Formation Group Meeting

Gravitational Waves Group Meeting

Dynamics Group Meetings

Compact Objects Group Meeting

Flatiron Computational Methods and Data Science Journal Club

Research Highlights

New regimes in the observation of core-collapse supernovae

In the Galactic disk, stellar [Fe/H] and age predict orbits and precise [X/Fe]

Detecting Thin Stellar Streams in External Galaxies: Resolved Stars & Integrated Light

Director

David Spergel, Ph.D.

Open Positions