History of the Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie and its scientific projects (1958–2004)

Abstract. The Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie located in Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, had a clearly defined beginning and end. It commenced on 1 January 1958 with the merging of the Max-Planck-Institut für Ionosphärenforschung (ionospheric research) and the Max-Planck-Institut für Physik der Stratosphäre (physics of the stratosphere), and it concluded in 2004 with its renaming as Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (solar system research – MPS). This manuscript reviews the organization, scientific research, and development that took place over these 47 years.