Dear Colleagues
I would like to personally invite you to join us at the next CELTA-Cortina Advanced Study Institute (ASI) Summer School “Dynamic Solar Systems: The exploration of exoplanetary and solar system bodies” on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, 8 – 20 June 2026.
The Celestial Mechanics Theory and Applications (CELTA) School is endorsed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Division A Fundamental Astronomy. It has funding from Scottish Universities Summer School in Physics (SUSSP) and is the 83rd SUSSP Summer School.
We welcome PhD students, early career researchers, established researchers and emeritus researchers from around the world.
Aims of the School
-to stimulate the cross-fertilisation of ideas between the communities who work in space sciences, exoplanets and solar system dynamics
-to understand the latest tools and methods of analysis necessary for research into space mission design and the dynamics, formation and evolution of exoplanets, solar system bodies and planetary systems.
Topics
Celestial Mechanics Theories & Tools for Space Missions and Space Science
Resonances, Regularization Theory, Perturbation theories, Homoclinic and Heteroclinic chaos, Dissipative models, Theory of close encounters, Time standards, Ephemerides, Astronomical Reference frames, Use of AI, data analysis & statistical techniques.
The Solar System
Artificial satellites, Earth & Moon geophysics and dynamical evolution, Space telescopes, Satellite observation of Earth environments, Dust and Space Debris, Near Earth Objects: Observe, Predict and Protect, Orbit determination, Planetary Defence and asteroid deflection, Space mission design for interplanetary exploration, Dynamics of Rubble Piles, Chaotic Dynamics in outer planetary regions.
Extrasolar Planets & Exoplanetary Systems
Ground & space based projects, Planet Detection & Demographics, Geophysics of planets: interiors to atmospheres, Tides and Exoplanets, Disc and formation of planets, Post-main sequence planetary systems evolution. The Search for Life.
If you haven’t been to a CELTA-Cortina style of Advanced Study Institute (ASI) School before – it is great fun – 2 weeks of collaboration, exchange of ideas and learning of state-of-the-art theories and tools for research in Celestial Mechanics, Space Missions, Space Sciences, Exoplanetary Systems and Solar System Dynamics. All delivered and facilitated by internationally renowned lecturers.
And we have plenty of time for extra-curricular activities, in the evenings and at the weekend, which builds collaborations, life-long friendships and a sense of community across the world. Activities are visits to Eilean Donan Castle and Mallaig, hill-walking, guided walks to gaelic historic sites, tour of the local Whisky distillery, boat trip to Knoydart, seal-watching, Ceilidh, Concert put on by the participants, Gala dinner and a public outreach talk.
We expect to have up to 60 participants, with 17 invited lecturers over 12 days.
Application
The website and registration for the CELTA school are open at www.astrocelta-asi.org
Applications will be considered as people apply. There are special PhD student/Early Career Researcher/Emeritus researcher rates and a limited number of scholarships for PhD students.
All are encouraged to apply before 15 April 2026 as places are limited to 60.
Please pass this invitation on to any colleagues and PhD students who may be interested. A poster and invitation can also be downloaded here. And you can find more on the School at our website.
I hope that you might join us. For any queries, you can contact us at astrocelta2026@gmail.com
Organising Committee
Bonnie Steves, University of Glasgow, Scotland (Director)
Martin Dominik, University of St Andrews, Scotland
Massimiliano Vasile, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
Winston Sweatman, Massey University, New Zealand
Scientific Organising Committee and Lecturers
Alessandra Celletti, Università di Roma 'Tor Vergata', Italy
Athena Coustenis, Paris-Meudon Observatory, France
Rudolf Dvorak, University of Vienna, Austria
Christos Efthymiopoulos, Università degli di Padova, Italy
Catalin Galeș, University of Iași, Romania
Giovanni Gronchi, Università di Pisa, Italy
Yamila Miguel, Leiden University, Netherlands
Ettore Perozzi, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Italy
Daniel J Scheeres, University of Colorado, USA
Giovanni B Valsecchi, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Italy
Dimitri Veras, University of Warwick, UK
With best regards,
Professor of Astrodynamics and Doctoral Education
President, IAU Division A Fundamental Astronomy
