Collaborative Research: The Assembly History of the Andromeda Spiral Galaxy

AST-0607377布洛克AST-0607852古哈萨库尔塔AST-0607630约翰斯顿AST-0607726马斯基这个由四个机构组成的合作项目的核心是对M31的晕，仙女座星系的第一次大规模光谱调查。 成像调查似乎已经发现了大飘带以及整体平滑的人口，这项研究的目的是了解这种晕及其结构的性质和起源。 观测设备和技术的结合使用应该比以前的研究更有效，预期的样本将包含30倍于以前在M31晕中进行的径向速度测量。 这项研究不仅将得出平均金属丰度分布函数，外旋转曲线，和速度色散的M31晕，但更重要的是，它将评估在何种程度上的卫星星系的破坏，有助于晕人口。 预期的径向速度和丰度的离散物质流将提供M31晕吸积历史的直观记录，妇女和其他代表性不足的群体将在所有四个合作机构的本科生和研究一级参加。 研究团队的每个成员定期在K-12教室进行公开讲座和演讲。 作为离我们最近的大型螺旋星系，M31为公众所熟知，因此研究结果很可能可以让非科学家轻松获得。

AST-0607377BullockAST-0607852GuhathakurtaAST-0607630JohnstonAST-0607726MajewskiThis collaborative project across four institutions has at its heart the first large-scale spectroscopic survey of the halo of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. Imaging surveys appear to have discovered large streamers as well as an overall smooth population, and this study aims to understand the nature and origin of this halo and its structure. The combination of observational facilities and techniques to be used should be much more efficient than prior studies, and the anticipated sample will contain thirty times as many radial velocity measurements as previously made in the halo of M31. This study not only will derive a mean metallicity distribution function, outer rotation curve, and velocity dispersion for the M31 halo, but more importantly it will assess the extent to which the disruption of satellite galaxies has contributed to the halo population. The expected discrete streams of material in radial velocity and abundance will provide a visual record of the accretion history of the M31 halo.Women and other under-represented groups will participate at the undergraduate and research level at all four of the collaborating institutions. Each member of the research team gives regular public lectures and presentations in K-12 classrooms. As our nearest large spiral galaxy, M31 is well known to the public, so it is likely that research results can be made readily accessible to non-scientists.