Collaborative Research: The Assembly History of the Andromeda Spiral Galaxy

这个由四个机构组成的合作项目的核心是对仙女座星系M31的光晕进行第一次大规模的光谱调查。成像调查似乎已经发现了大的飘带以及整体平滑的人口，这项研究旨在了解这种晕的性质和起源及其结构。使用的观测设备和技术的结合应该比以前的研究更有效，并且预期的样本将包含比以前在M31晕中进行的径向速度测量多30倍的数据。这项研究不仅将得出M31光晕的平均金属丰度分布函数、外旋曲线和速度色散，更重要的是，它将评估卫星星系的破坏对光晕人口的贡献程度。预期的径向速度和丰度的离散物质流将提供M31光晕吸积历史的视觉记录。妇女和其他代表性不足的群体将参加所有四个合作机构的本科和研究工作。研究小组的每个成员都定期在K-12教室里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对非科学家也很容易获得。

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.