The Evolution of Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies: Nature or Nurture?

根据在双子座等世界级设施中获得的观测结果，这个国际专家小组将确定是矮星椭圆星(自然)的固有属性还是邻近大星系(后天星系)的影响决定了这些小星系的恒星形成历史。对这种星系可能是宇宙中最早形成的天体的局部实例的研究表明，恒星形成历史上存在着意想不到的、无法解释的多样性。这项研究的结果与恒星的演化、化学元素的演化以及更大星系的形成有关。

From observations obtained at world-class facilities such as Gemini, this international team of experts will determine whether it is the intrinsic properties of dwarf Ellipticals (nature), or the influence of a neighbouring large galaxy (nurture), that determines the history of star formation in these small galaxies. Studies of local examples of this galaxy type, which may be the first objects formed in the Universe, have shown an unexpected and unexplained diversity of star formation histories. The outcomes of this research are relevant to the evolution of stars, the evolution of the chemical elements, and to the formation of larger galaxies.