The main research activities done at the observatory concern
extragalactic astronomy and
cosmology (large-scale structure of the universe, intergalactic media),
stellar physics,
interstellar medium and the
galaxy, the physics of the
Sun and the
Solar System (radioastronomy, coronal plasma, cometary and interplanetary dust), high energy astrophysics (
supernovae,
gamma-ray bursts), astronomical technologies (computer systems for data acquisition and control, including remote control, acquisition, handling and analysis of images, supercomputing) and space astronomy (development of space technologies and space observations). Of special importance is the participation in the projects of the
European Southern Observatory (ESO): the
Very Large Telescope (VLT) operated by ESO in
Chile; the
Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in
Arizona, the
Planck spacecraft operated by the
European Space Agency (ESA) from 2009 to 2013; and the
European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). The Astronomical Observatory of Trieste is integrated with all the major local scientific institutions in and around Trieste (the
AREA Science Park, the
International School for Advanced Studies and the
University of Trieste) and cooperates with major national and international astronomical institutions, such as the
Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the European Space Agency (ESA). ==See also==