General Introduction

How and when did the Universe begin - in a Big Bang about 15 billion years ago as is currently favored by available observational evidence?

How long after that did the first recognizable galaxies first assemble? What initiated the formation of the first generation of stars in these galaxies?

How did such primeval galaxies subsequently evolve into the galaxies we see today in the local Universe? What is the nature of the exceedingly luminous nuclei of some galaxies - supermassive black holes?

How do stars in our galaxy form, and how many are surrounded by planets that may harbour life?

How did planets, asteroids, and comets in our own Solar System form, and what do they have to teach us about the past and future of Planet Earth?

Astronomy encompasses some of the biggest questions in science, and is a truly international scientific endeavor.