If you’re thinking about physics or space as something you might want to study further, doing an astrophysics research project in high school can help you test that interest early. It shows you what the subject looks like when you move beyond structured problems and start working with real questions.

The topic you choose plays a big role in how the project goes. Starting with the first idea that comes to mind often leads to problems later, either the topic is too broad or difficult to work through. Taking time to explore multiple ideas helps you find something you can stay consistent with and actually complete. It also makes it easier to work within the limits of available data and tools.

Why should I do astrophysics research in high school?

Astrophysics research helps you develop skills that go beyond regular coursework. You learn to plan your work over time, manage deadlines, and adjust when your approach doesn't work. You also improve your ability to analyze information, apply concepts, and build logical explanations.

It also adds depth to your academic profile. A research project shows that you have worked independently on a subject and followed through on it. This makes it easier to demonstrate your interest in physics in college applications.

With that, here are 15 astrophysics research topics for high school students!

If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.

15 Astrophysics Research Topics for High School Students

1. Studying the Milky Way's Structure Using Star Maps: Use publicly available all-sky survey data to examine how stars, dust, and gas are distributed across the galaxy, and analyze what these patterns reveal about the Milky Way's spiral structure and our position within it.

2. Investigating How a Star's Mass Determines Its Fate: Research published stellar data to compare how stars of different masses evolve differently over time, from red giants to white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes, and examine the physical processes that drive these outcomes.

3. Analyzing the Speed of Galaxies Using the Doppler Effect: Use publicly available spectroscopic data to examine how the light from distant galaxies is shifted toward the red or blue end of the spectrum, and investigate what these shifts reveal about how galaxies are moving relative to Earth.

4. Mapping the Phases of the Moon: Systematically photograph and record lunar phases over a full cycle, then investigate how the Moon's position relative to the Sun and Earth produces the patterns observed from the ground.

5. Measuring the Rotation Rate of the Sun: Using free solar imaging data, track the movement of sunspots across the solar disk over several days to calculate how fast different latitudes of the Sun rotate — a phenomenon known as differential rotation.

6. Investigating Light Pollution and Its Effect on Star Visibility: Collect naked-eye or telescope observations from locations with varying levels of artificial light, and analyze how light pollution reduces the number of stars visible and affects limiting magnitude.

7. Exploring the Relationship Between a Star's Color and Its Temperature: Use spectral classification data from public star catalogs to investigate how a star's color corresponds to its surface temperature, and what this reveals about the physics of blackbody radiation.

8. Studying Meteor Shower Patterns: Using publicly available meteor observation databases, analyze the frequency, peak timing, and radiant point of a recurring meteor shower such as the Perseids or Leonids across multiple years.

9. Investigating the Scale of the Solar System: Use published planetary data to construct an accurate scaled model of the Solar System, then analyze how distance from the Sun relates to orbital period using Kepler's third law.

10. Examining How Telescope Aperture Affects Observing Capability: Research and compare how the size of a telescope's aperture affects its light-gathering power and resolution, using published specifications and real observational examples to draw conclusions.

11. Analyzing the Cosmic Microwave Background: Use publicly available data from missions such as NASA's WMAP or ESA's Planck satellite to examine the temperature variations in the cosmic microwave background and explore what they reveal about the early universe.

12. Comparing Crater Distributions on the Moon and Other Planets: Use NASA's freely available planetary image databases to count and measure impact craters across different regions, then investigate how crater density relates to surface age.

13. Investigating How Distance Affects the Apparent Brightness of Stars: Using data from star catalogs that include both apparent magnitude and distance measurements, explore the inverse square law of light and test how well it predicts observed brightness differences.

14. Researching the Discovery and Classification of Dwarf Planets: Compile and analyze published data on known dwarf planets in the Solar System, examining how they are defined, how they were discovered, and how their physical properties compare to those of the eight major planets.

15. Exploring Variable Star Brightness Over Time: Access archived photometric data from sources such as the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) to plot and analyze the brightness changes of a variable star, and investigate what drives its periodic fluctuations.

One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.