Collaborative Research: The Assembly History of the Andromeda Spiral Galaxy

AST-0607726MajewskiAST-0607852GuhathakurtaAST-0607630JohnstonAST-0607377BullockThis跨四个机构的合作项目的核心是对M31的光晕--仙女座星系--进行的第一次大规模光谱调查。成像调查似乎发现了巨大的流光以及总体上平稳的人口，这项研究的目的是了解这个光晕的性质和起源及其结构。将使用的观测设施和技术的组合应该比以前的研究更有效率，预期的样本将包含之前在M31光晕中进行的径向速度测量的30倍。这项研究不仅将得出M31晕的平均金属丰度分布函数、外自转曲线和速度弥散，更重要的是它将评估卫星星系的破坏对晕群的贡献程度。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。妇女和其他代表不足的群体将参加所有四个合作机构的本科生和研究水平。研究小组的每一名成员定期在K-12课堂上进行公开演讲和演讲。作为距离我们最近的大型螺旋星系，M31为公众所熟知，因此很可能研究成果可以很容易地提供给非科学家。

AST-0607726MajewskiAST-0607852GuhathakurtaAST-0607630JohnstonAST-0607377BullockThis 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.