Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Group at Florida Tech investigates the physical processes governing stars, galaxies, compact objects, and the large-scale structure of the universe. Faculty and students work across a broad range of topics, including high-energy astrophysics, accretion phenomena, the evolution and feedback of active galactic nuclei and their relativistic jets, the internal structure and atmospheres of stars, and the dynamics of binary systems. Research also spans observational cosmology, tests of gravitational physics, and the demographics of massive black holes in both normal and active galaxies.

Projects use multi-wavelength datasets covering radio to gamma-ray regimes, with observations from major space-based observatories—including the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, and XMM-Newton—as well as premier ground-based facilities such as the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias, the Gemini telescopes, and the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array. Members of the group contribute to the development of advanced astronomical instrumentation, including high-dynamic-range imagers for future space missions and instrumentation upgrades for large-aperture telescopes. Faculty are additionally involved in NASA’s Juno, Parker Solar Probe, and Voyager missions, extending the group’s reach into heliophysics and planetary contexts.

Research infrastructure includes two dedicated laboratories (Astro Lab A and B) equipped with Linux and macOS workstations, astronomical data-reduction pipelines, image and spectral analysis tools, and a wide suite of programming languages. Florida Tech is the founding institution of the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA), maintaining a 15% share in a network of three 1-m class telescopes located at the Canary Islands, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. The F.W. Olin Observatory’s 0.8-m Ortega Telescope—equipped with a large-format CCD imager, lucky-imaging camera, and spectrograph—supports faculty and student research as well as public outreach and open-night programs.

SARA Telescopes: Florida Tech is the founding institution for the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA). We have a 15% share in a network of three 1-meter class telescopes on the Canary Islands, at Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory.

Ortega 0.8-m Telescope: This large research telescope forms the heart of the F.W. Olin Observatory. Installed in 2007, the Ortega Telescope sits on the rooftop of the F. W. Olin Physical Sciences Center. Equipped with a large-format CCD imaging system, lucky imager and spectrograph, it is available for student and faculty astronomy and astrophysics research projects as well as public open nights.

Faculty: Eric Perlman, Luis Quiroga-Nunez, Donald Warren