Introduction

The Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna is one of the twenty research structures of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), operating under the supervision of the Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR). The Ministry provides most of the financial resources which make our activity possible.

This Report gives an overview of our scientific research, covering a wide range of astrophysical topics, as well as operational and educational activities. OAB astronomers are mostly involved in:

• studies of stellar populations and galactic evolution and their cosmological implications;

• studies of the structure, evolution and distribution of galaxies, clusters and AGNs, and their contribution to the cosmological backgrounds;

• numerical studies in the field of gas hydrodynamics and turbulence simulations;

• management and upgrading of the two telescopes in Loiano (152 and 60 cm) and development of astronomical instruments in the framework of national and international programs.

• outreach and educational initiatives, through exhibitions, lectures and workshops.

Most of these studies are based on an intensive use of the most advanced ground-based and space instruments available today at all wavelengths. They are carried out in collaboration with many international and national institutes and, locally, with the Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Astronomia and with two other research structures of INAF, Istituto di Radioastronomia and Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica-Bologna. A large fraction of the staff is involved in international long-term projects, at the forefront of astronomical research.

This report was edited by Alberto Buzzoni, Alberto Cappi, Antonio De Blasi, Annibale D'Ercole, Emiliano Diolaiti, Silvia Galleti, Monica Marra, Roberto Merighi, Francesco Poppi, Giovanna Stirpe, and Valentina Zitelli.

Web Edition by Marco Lolli

Flavio Fusi Pecci

(Director)