The fossil record of galaxy formation. This Australian-led team recently used the Anglo-Australian Telescope to discover large numbers of a new type of very small galaxy in the centres of two galaxy clusters. This project will maintain Australian leadership in this new area of astrophysics research, whilst using the best international expertise and facilities.
The formation and structure of distant galaxies. (i) The proposed galaxy evolution science involves the study of one of the most fundamental processes within the universe, thereby contributing to the Priority Goal of 'Breakthrough Science' under National Research Priority 3. (ii) It will bring national benefit through international collaborations with prestigious US, UK, and Canadian institutions. (iii) These collaborations will lead to new research capacity being built within Australia, with co ....The formation and structure of distant galaxies. (i) The proposed galaxy evolution science involves the study of one of the most fundamental processes within the universe, thereby contributing to the Priority Goal of 'Breakthrough Science' under National Research Priority 3. (ii) It will bring national benefit through international collaborations with prestigious US, UK, and Canadian institutions. (iii) These collaborations will lead to new research capacity being built within Australia, with considerable knowledge and expertise being vested in young postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
Galaxy recycling in clusters of galaxies. Large galaxies are thought to form by merging smaller dwarf galaxies, but recent discoveries reveal a more violent picture: some dwarf galaxies are torn apart by the gravity of their companions, their contents strewn across inter-galactic space.
We will investigate how much this debris is recycled into other galaxies. We will examine Hubble Space Telescope images of dwarf galaxies to test if they are broken up to form the ultra-compact dwarf galaxies we ....Galaxy recycling in clusters of galaxies. Large galaxies are thought to form by merging smaller dwarf galaxies, but recent discoveries reveal a more violent picture: some dwarf galaxies are torn apart by the gravity of their companions, their contents strewn across inter-galactic space.
We will investigate how much this debris is recycled into other galaxies. We will examine Hubble Space Telescope images of dwarf galaxies to test if they are broken up to form the ultra-compact dwarf galaxies we recently discovered. We will model the rate at which dwarf galaxies are disrupted to determine how the dark matter is distributed in such galaxies.Read moreRead less
Uncovering the Fossil Record of Galaxy Formation. Our Australian-led team recently used the Anglo-Australian Telescope to discover large numbers of a new type of very small galaxy in the centres of two galaxy clusters. This project will allow us to maintain Australian leadership in this new area of astrophysics research, whilst using leading international facilities.
Galactic Cannibalism: The link between dwarf galaxies and globular star clusters. The formation of bright globular star clusters in giant galaxies like our own Milky Way remains an unsolved problem in astrophysics. Galactic cannibalism is the theory that they formed by the disruption of dwarf galaxies that came too close to the gravitational field of giant galaxies. We will use the new Gemini Telescopes to test this theory with sensitive comparisons of the properties of globular clusters, dwarf ....Galactic Cannibalism: The link between dwarf galaxies and globular star clusters. The formation of bright globular star clusters in giant galaxies like our own Milky Way remains an unsolved problem in astrophysics. Galactic cannibalism is the theory that they formed by the disruption of dwarf galaxies that came too close to the gravitational field of giant galaxies. We will use the new Gemini Telescopes to test this theory with sensitive comparisons of the properties of globular clusters, dwarf galaxies and our newly-discovered ultra-compact dwarf galaxies which may be the missing link in this process.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882778
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,224.00
Summary
Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipm ....Water vapour radiometers for millimetre-wave phase correction for the Australia Telescope. Australia has a tradition of excellence in astronomy. Inspired by wonder about the cosmos, it stimulates public interest in science, so leading to the training of highly skilled graduates. In turn, this drives the development of technologies needed to pursue the science. The nation has invested in the technology for millimetre-wave astronomy, building the first interferometer in our hemisphere. This equipment will capitalise on this investment, extending the capabilities of the Australia Telescope to maintain it as a front line instrument, attracting the best scientists here to use it. This will help nurture a vigorous radio-science community, one able to actively participate in the billion-dollar investment being made internationally in the field.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775546
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,000.00
Summary
Construction of the blue-arm of the ANU 2.3m telescope Wide-Field Spectrograph. The new blue and red arms of the WiFeS spectrograph on the SSO 2.3m telescope utilizes new optical techniques and advances in detector technology to provide unique capabilities for front-line research and student training. The novel integral field units on WiFeS extract spectra across the face of faint, distant galaxies enabling the dynamics of the stellar and gas content to be analysed in unprecedented detail. Anoth ....Construction of the blue-arm of the ANU 2.3m telescope Wide-Field Spectrograph. The new blue and red arms of the WiFeS spectrograph on the SSO 2.3m telescope utilizes new optical techniques and advances in detector technology to provide unique capabilities for front-line research and student training. The novel integral field units on WiFeS extract spectra across the face of faint, distant galaxies enabling the dynamics of the stellar and gas content to be analysed in unprecedented detail. Another important project will be to follow-up interesting objects discovered by the new SkyMapper telescope and establish those that need to be observed on 8 m telescopes such as Gemini, Magellan or VLT. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989347
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
CYCLOPS - A Better Way to Find Extrasolar Planets. The primary scientific driver for this new facility is the search for planets orbiting other stars. Australian astronomers, and the Anglo-Australian Telescope, have played a leading role in this new frontier for astronomy, detecting 25 of the 250-odd extrasolar planets known to orbit nearby stars. The CYCLOPS project brings together a team of leading Australian astronomers to build on this track record with a new facility that further advances A ....CYCLOPS - A Better Way to Find Extrasolar Planets. The primary scientific driver for this new facility is the search for planets orbiting other stars. Australian astronomers, and the Anglo-Australian Telescope, have played a leading role in this new frontier for astronomy, detecting 25 of the 250-odd extrasolar planets known to orbit nearby stars. The CYCLOPS project brings together a team of leading Australian astronomers to build on this track record with a new facility that further advances Australia's capabilities in both this field, and several other high-profile astronomical endeavours: including the study of seismology in stellar interiors, the detailed measurement of elemental abundances in stars throughout our Galaxy, and the mapping of spot features on the surfaces of stars.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0228799
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,602,000.00
Summary
Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership. The International Gemini Partnership is an intergovernmental consortium formed to construct and operate two 8-metre optical/infrared telescopes, one in Chile, and the other in Hawaii. Australia joined the IGP in May 1998, taking approximately 5% of the partnership. The Gemini telescopes have been carefully engineered to exploit the superb atmospheric conditions at both sites, allowing users to address key astronomical problems in way ....Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership. The International Gemini Partnership is an intergovernmental consortium formed to construct and operate two 8-metre optical/infrared telescopes, one in Chile, and the other in Hawaii. Australia joined the IGP in May 1998, taking approximately 5% of the partnership. The Gemini telescopes have been carefully engineered to exploit the superb atmospheric conditions at both sites, allowing users to address key astronomical problems in ways not previously possible. Through membership of Gemini, Australian astronomers have access to the world-class facilities necessary to maintain their high international profile and great public visibility in Galactic and extragalactic astronomy, and also to enhance the national capacity to construct advanced scientific instrumentation. Australia has already won a contract to build one of the instruments.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453817
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,849,438.00
Summary
Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership. The International Gemini Partnership is an intergovernmental consortium formed to build and operate two 8-metre optical/infrared telescopes, one in Chile and the other in Hawaii. Australia joined the IGP in May 1998, taking approximately 5% of the partnership. The Gemini telescopes have been carefully engineered to exploit the superb atmospheric conditions at both sites, allowing users to address key astronomical problems in ways not ....Australian Membership of the International Gemini Partnership. The International Gemini Partnership is an intergovernmental consortium formed to build and operate two 8-metre optical/infrared telescopes, one in Chile and the other in Hawaii. Australia joined the IGP in May 1998, taking approximately 5% of the partnership. The Gemini telescopes have been carefully engineered to exploit the superb atmospheric conditions at both sites, allowing users to address key astronomical problems in ways not previously possible. Through membership of Gemini, Australian astronomers have access to the world-class facilities necessary to maintain their high international profile and the great public visibility in Galactic and extragalactic astronomy, and also to enhance the national capacity to
construct advanced scientific instrumentation. Australia is currently building one of the instruments.
Note: in A7.1 GAMS incorrectly forces integer days/month. In full operation Australian astronomers will receive approximately 25 nights per year.Read moreRead less