Explore Our Research Questions
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How can we image the faintest exoplanets?
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How can we image the faintest exoplanets?
How can we make innovative masks to suppress that blinding brightness? How do we make detector technology sensitive enough to register every incident light particle? After all, a typical space telescope captures only about one light particl...
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How do aerosols affect the climate?
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How do aerosols affect the climate?
Aerosols are particles like soot and desert dust Aerosols are small particles like soot, ash and desert dust in the atmosphere, also known as particulate matter. They have a net cooling effect on climate, but to what extent is unclear. The ...
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How do black holes form and grow?
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How do black holes form and grow?
So much for the simple story. In fact, black holes of 20 solar masses or more also exist. And we have never seen a supernova of a star with enough mass to form such a heavy black hole. It is possible that such heavy stars implode; there are...
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How do stars and planets form?
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How do stars and planets form?
Clouds of gas and dust in space slowly contract under the influence of their gravity. The more dust and gas clump together, the busier it gets in the centre of the cloud. Until the pressure is so high that hydrogen atoms start fusing with e...
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How do we unravel the physics behind black holes?
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How do we unravel the physics behind black holes?
A black hole is literally a hole in spacetime. With its enormous mass density, it warps the space around it into a hole into which everything from its surroundings disappears for eternity. That same mass also makes time seem to stand still ...
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How is climate change affecting life on Earth?
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How is climate change affecting life on Earth?
Satellite data provides a global picture of the earth and atmosphere and can thus help map these impacts. We use this information to adapt or increase our resilience. Carbon monoxide from fires Natural fires are increasingly common a...
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How special is earth in context of the universe?
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How special is earth in context of the universe?
A perfect planet for humans So far, we have not found any other planet that also offers all the conditions like Earth. Earth has the right temperature to have water in liquid form because of its distance from the sun. And because of its atm...
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Where are greenhouse gases emitted?
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Where are greenhouse gases emitted?
Weekly Global Methane Map SRON develops instrumentation for satellites that scan the entire Earth’s atmosphere on a daily basis, for methane and other gases. Sentinel-5p has been active in space since 2017 and its successor METOP-SG A...
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About SRON
As the national institute for space research, SRON Space Research Organization Netherlands plays a vital role on behalf of the Dutch space research community. SRON is a leading international research institute operating at the forefront of space research to address fundamental questions about the cosmos and the Earth’s environment. As the primary space research institute in the Netherlands, SRON serves as a focal point for coordinating and conducting cutting-edge research in astrophysics and Earth science from space. We collaborate closely with universities, research institutions and industry partners to leverage national expertise and resources to advance scientific discovery in these fields.
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Missions
Active
Pillars
For the answers of the future, we need to ask questions and push boundaries now. Five powerful pillars provide us with all that we need for this.
