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Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center Information about CAMK |
Bartycka 18, 00-716 Warsaw, POLAND |
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About CAMK
At the N. Copernicus Astronomical Centre, research is carried out into stellar evolution, the theory of accretion, high energy astrophysics, the dynamics of stellar systems, cosmology, relativity theory, the astrophysics of neutron stars, numerical simulations and other fields, comprising 30 programmes funded by the government Committee for Scientific Research and several international projects. CAMK can confer PhD and doctor habilitatus degreees. more in the RESEARCH section. History of CAMK
more in the HISTORY section |
INTEGRAL
more on the INTEGRAL pages SALT
more on the SALT pages HERSCHEL
more on the Herschel pages |
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©2001-2010 CAMK |
The Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of
the Polish Academy of Sciences was founded in 1978,
based on the Astronomy Unit of the Academy, set up in
1956. The construction and equipment of CAMK were made
possible thanks to help from the Americal astronomical
community. CAMK was one of the pioneers of numerical
computing methods, networks and Internet in Poland, and
possesed one of the first microcomputers. Many highly
regarded Polish astronomers who now work around the
world came originally from the Centre. Currently all the
major areas of astrophysics are studied at CAMK.
In 2002 the orbiting gamma-ray
laboratory known as INTEGRAL was launched. It is
expected that its observational data will help answer
many important questions regarding gamma ray bursts,
active galactic nuceli, supernovae and the properties of
the interstellar medium. Astronomers from the
N. Copernicus Astronomical Centre and the Space Research
Centre are involved in the mission.
SALT ( Southern African Large
Telescope) is an international project to build and use
an optical telescope of 11m diameter observing the
southern sky. A similar telescope is already operating
in Texas. Polish astronomers a participating in the
project, with Poland having a 10% share in the
construction and running costs. In return we will have
access to one of the largest and most modern instruments
in the world. CAMK is the Polish coordinator for the
project.
How did galaxies form?
How are stars born? These are the questions which the
HERSCHEL space telescope will try to answer. This
instrument, operating in the infra-red, is another
example of the participation of Polish astronomers and
technicians in the construction of a fantastic
instrument for studying the beginnings of the
Universe.