Dr. Salim G. Ansari
Astrophysicist • Former ESA Scientist • Author • Science Educator
Astrophysicist • Former ESA Scientist • Author • Science Educator
Welcome to my personal website. I am a retired astrophysicist who worked at the European Space Agency (ESA) from March 1991 until November 2022. I remain actively engaged in astronomical research as an affiliated researcher with the Department of Astrophysics, University of Vienna , where my current work focuses on the dynamics of star formation in nearby molecular clouds.
Today I continue my passion for astronomy through research, astrophotography, science education, and investigations into kinematics of star formation.
My scientific publications and research activities can be found on ResearchGate .
I currently serve as Chair of NAEC Austria , promoting astronomy education and outreach throughout Austria.
Here's an animation of the Orion constellation based on Gaia proper motions and how it begins to deform in the next 1 million years.
I am currently working on an exciting research topic involving star formation within nearby molecular clouds.
Visit the MAGI Project.
The project investigates the relationship between:
By combining Gaia stellar motions, Herschel density maps and Planck magnetic field measurements, I am investigating how these phenomena interact during the star-formation process.
Ultimately, this work seeks a deeper understanding of the forces governing stellar birth and their possible relationship to the mysterious phenomenon we call gravitation.
I like to think of the Lagoon Nebula (M8) as the Orion Nebula of the summer sky. I am fascinated by the wealth of detail within the nebula, particularly the dark globules that can be captured even with relatively simple telescopes. It is, after all, one of the brightest nebulae in the night sky!
Its location almost directly along the line of sight toward the inner Galaxy makes the region particularly challenging to study, as the Lagoon Nebula is projected against the extremely rich and complex stellar background of the Galactic plane. My recent research has specifically focused on the prominent young star cluster NGC 6530 and its kinematics.
I have written several books on astrophotography, smart telescopes and image processing in multiple languages. I am also the author of the novel Adventures of a Golf Ball, following the journey of a golf ball named Flogi around the world.
Apart from spending a lot of time on a golf course, I spend nights on end capturing images of Deep Sky Objects. I mainly use smart telescopes. I own two Vesperas and one DWARF Mini.
Feel free to contact me regarding astronomy, astrophotography, science education, ESA-related activities, or my current MAGI research.
📧 Email: ansarisg@gmail.com