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Experimental gravitation and "Radio Science"

Italy has a strong tradition in the use of interplanetary probes for experiments in the field of gravitation. Taken together, these experiments allow the determination of the gravitational field of the planets and minor bodies of the solar system, their structure and rotational motion, as well as to carry out tests of theories of gravitation: information essential for the study of the origin of the solar system itself.

From the instrumental and know-how point of view, in such "Radio Science" experiments, use is made of high sensitivity accelerometers (the ISA - Italian Spring Accelerometer - is one of the payloads of the Bepi Colombo mission), tracking systems and programmes for accurate orbital determination.

ALMA WITNESSES STAR BIRTH BEYOND THE EDGES OF THE MILKY WAY

Apr 22, 2026

ALMA WITNESSES STAR BIRTH BEYOND THE EDGES OF THE MILKY WAY A new study, led by INAF, has mapped, for the first time, the mass distribution of newly formed cores in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Thanks to high-resolution images from ALMA, it has emerged that these cores form according to the same patterns observed in the Milky Way. The result suggests that the initial fragmentation mechanisms of gas and dust clumps, from which stars are born, are universal and independent of the galactic environment.

RR Lyrae variables as beacons to investigate the early formation of the Milky Way

Jan 26, 2026

RR Lyrae variables as beacons to investigate the early formation of the Milky Way

CALVERA EXPLODED WHERE IT SHOULDN’T HAVE: A “RUNAWAY” PULSAR DEFIES THE RULES OF THE MILKY WAY

Aug 29, 2025

CALVERA EXPLODED WHERE IT SHOULDN’T HAVE: A “RUNAWAY” PULSAR DEFIES THE RULES OF THE MILKY WAY A stellar explosion, a pulsar, and a supernova remnant - that’s the story of Calvera. Positioned more than 6,500 light-years above the Galactic plane, this system is rewriting what we know about stellar evolution in our galaxy. The research originates from a team at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), in collaboration with the University of Palermo, and is detailed in a study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics