ABSTRACT

Studies of cosmologically distant galaxies with space-based and ground-based astronomical observatories have improved greatly our understanding of galaxy evolution. I will discuss recent results in understanding the formation of galaxies derived primarily from the Spitzer Space Telescope, which measures the infrared emission from obscured star formation and AGN in these galaxies. Combining the Spitzer and other multiwavelength data, we now have interesting constraints on the rates of the assembly of massive galaxies at high redshifts. I will discuss ongoing surveys to study massive galaxy assembly within high-density, large-scale structures at high redshift. And, I will describe a program to study gravitationally lensed distant galaxies, which provides a very detailed view of galaxy formation. I will summarize the open questions and challenges that remain in observational studies of galaxy evolution.