Uncovering the Fossil Record of Galaxy Formation

Abstract:: Understanding the formation of galaxies is a fundamental aim of astrophysics but current observations of the process are limited to nearby galaxies where the process is already finished or difficult measurements of distant galaxies still forming. Here we propose to follow a third route: the study of fossil remains from earlier stages of the formation process that are still preserved today in the centres of nearby rich galaxy clusters. We will compare the properties of populations of compact objects (both star clusters and our newly-discovered ultra-compact dwarf galaxies) in the centres of nearby galaxy clusters with high-resolution numerical simulations to test theories of how galaxies formed
Grant type:: ARC Discovery Projects
Funded by:: Australian Research Council

The University of Queensland