Stars, galaxies and cosmology in the near field: the Local Group as a laboratory for galaxy formation
Alan McConnachie (HIA, Victoria)
It is on galactic scales that our understanding of the cosmological evolution of matter is most incomplete. Many of the predicted features of galaxies, such as faint satellites and diffuse stellar haloes, are extremely low surface brightness. The Milky Way, M31 and M33 are therefore the only three large galaxies in the Universe which can currently provide robust tests of, and constraints on, many fundamental predictions of galaxy formation models. Dwarf galaxies, of which the Local Group is home to more than 50, occupy a fundamental role as the most dark matter dominated systems in existence and are sensitive probes to various feedback mechanisms believed to operate during galaxy formation. In this talk I will review recent efforts which probe the cosmological evolution of Local Group dwarf galaxies and their connection to galaxies like M31 and the Milky Way. I will conclude by introducing the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS), an ambitious project to survey over 300 sq.degrees of the M31/M33 sub-group (approximately 15 million cupic kiloparsecs) to provide the deepest and most complete panorama of galaxy haloes available.
Contact: Josh Simon
Alan McConnachie (HIA, Victoria)
It is on galactic scales that our understanding of the cosmological evolution of matter is most incomplete. Many of the predicted features of galaxies, such as faint satellites and diffuse stellar haloes, are extremely low surface brightness. The Milky Way, M31 and M33 are therefore the only three large galaxies in the Universe which can currently provide robust tests of, and constraints on, many fundamental predictions of galaxy formation models. Dwarf galaxies, of which the Local Group is home to more than 50, occupy a fundamental role as the most dark matter dominated systems in existence and are sensitive probes to various feedback mechanisms believed to operate during galaxy formation. In this talk I will review recent efforts which probe the cosmological evolution of Local Group dwarf galaxies and their connection to galaxies like M31 and the Milky Way. I will conclude by introducing the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS), an ambitious project to survey over 300 sq.degrees of the M31/M33 sub-group (approximately 15 million cupic kiloparsecs) to provide the deepest and most complete panorama of galaxy haloes available.
Contact: Josh Simon