Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101086
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Pioneering measurements of hidden gas in our Milky Way Galaxy. This project aims to measure hidden gas in our Milky Way Galaxy. The dynamic transformation of diffuse gas to dense clouds and then to stars is a crucial component of how galaxies function. Recent work implies vast reservoirs of undetected gas intermediate between the diffuse and dense phases – a missing link connecting diffuse gas to star-forming clouds. This project aims to uncover that hidden gas, using radio spectral line observa ....Pioneering measurements of hidden gas in our Milky Way Galaxy. This project aims to measure hidden gas in our Milky Way Galaxy. The dynamic transformation of diffuse gas to dense clouds and then to stars is a crucial component of how galaxies function. Recent work implies vast reservoirs of undetected gas intermediate between the diffuse and dense phases – a missing link connecting diffuse gas to star-forming clouds. This project aims to uncover that hidden gas, using radio spectral line observations and theoretical models to understand its role as an intermediary on the road to star formation. These results are expected to change understanding of how galaxies form and evolve from the early universe to the present day.Read moreRead less
The scale and structure of the Milky Way. This project aims to use new Australian infrastructure to make the most accurate distance measurements to date in the southern Milky Way, completing the three-dimensional picture of our Galaxy. Australia's international standing in astronomy has led to it being one of the host countries for the square kilometre array project, which will bring significant economic and technological benefits to the country. This project builds upon Australia's astronomical ....The scale and structure of the Milky Way. This project aims to use new Australian infrastructure to make the most accurate distance measurements to date in the southern Milky Way, completing the three-dimensional picture of our Galaxy. Australia's international standing in astronomy has led to it being one of the host countries for the square kilometre array project, which will bring significant economic and technological benefits to the country. This project builds upon Australia's astronomical expertise and will provide the most accurate picture to date of the Milky Way. Astronomy provides unique opportunities for engaging the community in discussions of science and society and inspires students to study STEM subjects.Read moreRead less
Dark gas and the formation of molecular clouds. Using frontline radio telescopes in Australia, Chile and Antarctica the project aims to understand how molecular clouds are formed in space, a part of the life cycle of our galaxy, and the role of hard-to-detect 'dark gas' in this process. Australia's Mopra telescope plays a central role in this international endeavour.
Unveiling the Galaxy: Dense Gas and Star Formation in the Milky Way. This project aims to address one of the most fundamental problems in astrophysics - understanding how high-mass stars form - by utilising a new, innovative, purpose-designed astronomical survey. This project will generate new knowledge about the star formation process by interfacing theoretical predictions with novel observations, aided by the most accurate distances yet derived. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive unders ....Unveiling the Galaxy: Dense Gas and Star Formation in the Milky Way. This project aims to address one of the most fundamental problems in astrophysics - understanding how high-mass stars form - by utilising a new, innovative, purpose-designed astronomical survey. This project will generate new knowledge about the star formation process by interfacing theoretical predictions with novel observations, aided by the most accurate distances yet derived. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive understanding of star formation, and an unparalleled map of the dense gas structure of our Galaxy. This should provide significant benefits, such as the crucial insight needed to interpret future sensitive, high-resolution surveys with next generation, globe-spanning telescopes in which Australia is a key partner.Read moreRead less
Galactic archaeology: a radial velocity experiment to unveil the history of the Milky Way. The goal of the international RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) survey is to measure velocities and chemical properties of 500,000 stars, using the Schmidt telescope at Siding Spring Observatory; the survey was conceived by Australians and involves astronomers from 10 countries. This is the basic information that we need to understand how the Milky Way formed and evolved.
A survey of the interstellar medium in the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. Between the stars in the Milky Way there are clouds of gas and dust; old stars eject heavy elements into this interstellar medium, and new stars form when interstellar clouds collapse under their own gravity. This survey is making maps of the interstellar gas using spectral lines at radio wavelengths to trace the cycle of star formation.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101270
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$319,109.00
Summary
Tracing the evolution of high-mass stars: combining maser evolutionary timelines with chemical clocks. Maser emission (radio analogue of lasers) arises naturally in the dense gas surrounding young, large stars. Studying many types of masers towards lots of sources will allow us to uncover the precise stages of star formation that each maser species is tracing. Such a timeline promises to be an important tool in determining how these big stars form.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100639
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,242.00
Summary
Defining the dynamic magnetised Milky Way. Without understanding how the Milky Way works, it is incredibly difficult to understand the evolution and structure of more distant galaxies. This research will show how the pieces of our Galaxy, including the impact of the mysterious force of magnetism, fit together and move around in space, defining a new image of the Milky Way.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100851
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$323,000.00
Summary
Stellar populations in Globular Clusters: insights in to Galaxy assembly. This project aims to advance our knowledge of globular clusters. The study of the newly discovered generations of stars in globular clusters constitutes a modern branch of stellar and galactic astrophysics. The project plans to provide a chemical characterisation of the multiple stellar populations present in globular clusters, and explore the nature of these ancient stellar systems and their possible connection with dwarf ....Stellar populations in Globular Clusters: insights in to Galaxy assembly. This project aims to advance our knowledge of globular clusters. The study of the newly discovered generations of stars in globular clusters constitutes a modern branch of stellar and galactic astrophysics. The project plans to provide a chemical characterisation of the multiple stellar populations present in globular clusters, and explore the nature of these ancient stellar systems and their possible connection with dwarf galaxies. The outcome of this research may help us understand the formation mechanisms of the Milky Way and the contribution of globular clusters to the galactic halo assembly, and may open unexpected solutions for the ‘missing satellites problem’ – the lack of low-mass galaxies compared to the predictions of the Big Bang model.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101816
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,000.00
Summary
A survey of the Milky Way building blocks with the Hubble Space Telescope. Recent studies have resulted in one of the most exciting and unexpected developments in stellar-population studies: the discovery of multiple stellar generations in globular clusters. These findings have dramatically changed the traditional picture of these seemingly simple stellar systems and provided evidence that the globulars are building blocks of the Galactic halo. The Hubble Space Telescope is in the process of col ....A survey of the Milky Way building blocks with the Hubble Space Telescope. Recent studies have resulted in one of the most exciting and unexpected developments in stellar-population studies: the discovery of multiple stellar generations in globular clusters. These findings have dramatically changed the traditional picture of these seemingly simple stellar systems and provided evidence that the globulars are building blocks of the Galactic halo. The Hubble Space Telescope is in the process of collecting a large amount of data as part of the first survey of multiple generations in globular clusters. The project is based on this unique dataset and aims to provide a major advance to understand the origin and the evolution of globular clusters, as well as the formation mechanisms that build the Milky Way.Read moreRead less