Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB)
About Us
The Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) is a research institution that also performs various public service tasks. It is a Federal Scientific Institution (FSI) under the Federal Public Service (FPS) Science Policy ("Belspo"). At the ROB, researchers study the Earth, the Sun, and other objects in both the nearby and distant universe.The scientific disciplines at the ROB include astronomy, planetology, geophysics, seismology, space geodesy, and solar physics. The ROB collaborates with numerous international research centers in these fields. Since 2010, the ROB has been organized around four main research themes: Reference Systems and Planetology, Seismology and Gravimetry, Astronomy and Astrophysics, and Solar Physics and Space Weather. The ROB's service activities include timekeeping, managing the Belgian seismological network, integrating Belgium’s GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System, such as GPS) network into international reference systems, conducting gravimetric measurements, continuously monitoring solar activity, forecasting space weather, and disseminating information on astronomical phenomena. The Royal Observatory also boasts a comprehensive library and manages the Planetarium at the Heysel. (website)
Research Areas of ROB
| OD1 | Reference Systems and Planetology (website) |
|---|---|
| OD2 | Seismology and Gravimetry (website) |
| OD3 | Astronomy and Astrophysics (website) |
| OD4 | Solar Physics and Space Weather (website) |
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Massive star (3D radiative transfer modeling, stellar winds, colliding winds, hypergiants)
Stellar evolution (AGB stars, planetary nebulae)
Stellar rotation (intermediate-mass stars)
Variable stars (Classical Cepheids, type-II Cepheids, delta Scuti stars, gamma Doradus stars,
beta Cephei stars, Slowly Pulsating B stars)
Binary stars (Algols, binaries with pulsating components)
Digitization
Instrumentation
As a partner institute of the HERMES consortium, ROB contributes to:
Development of advanced spectrographs
Research on high-resolution imaging
Calibration and data analysis techniques
Name : Peter De Cat
Address : Ringlaan 3, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium
mail : peter DeCat
Tel : +32 2 3730675