Galactic Archaeology: A Radial Velocity Experiment to Unveil the History of the Milky Way

雄心勃勃的径向速度实验(RAVE)将在2006-2010年间测量5000万颗恒星的速度和化学性质，是历史上测量数量的2000倍。RAVE将在英国西丁泉施密特望远镜上使用一种新技术的澳大利亚光纤光谱仪。RAVE的一个关键演示是我们拟议的试点调查，使用现有仪器测量10万颗恒星-已经是之前任何一次调查的20倍-提供了我们银河系形成的独特化学和运动学指纹。在2006年开始全面调查之前，这对于确定最佳观测战略、数据管理和软件流水线至关重要。

The ambitious RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) will measure velocities and chemical properties of 50 million stars in the period 2006-2010 - 2000 times the number measured throughout history. RAVE will use a new-technology Australian fiber spectrometer at the Siding Spring UK Schmidt Telescope. A key demonstrator for RAVE is our proposed pilot survey using existing instruments to measure 100,000 stars - already 20 times larger than any previous survey - providing unique chemical and kinematical fingerprints of our Galaxy's formation. This is critical for determining the optimum observing strategy, data management, and software pipeline, before embarking on the full survey in 2006.