astrofysica

Astrofysika is the branch of science that studies the physical properties, laws, and processes governing astronomical objects and the universe. It applies theories and principles from physics—gravitation, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics—to explain how stars form, evolve, and end their lives; how galaxies assemble; and how cosmic structures unfold across vast scales. The field also investigates components that are not directly visible, such as dark matter, dark energy, and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions.

Astrofysika relies on observations across the electromagnetic spectrum and on data from other messengers, including gravitational waves and neutrinos, combined with theoretical modeling and numerical simulations. Instruments such as telescopes and detectors collect data in radio, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray bands, and computational methods are used to interpret spectra, images, and time series. Techniques include spectroscopy, photometry, imaging, and the study of variability.

The field encompasses subfields including stellar astrophysics, planetary science and exoplanets, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, high-energy astrophysics, and cosmology. Typical questions address the origin and evolution of the universe, the life cycles of stars and galaxies, the physical nature of compact objects, and the potential for life elsewhere in the cosmos.