The World of Galaxies
A galaxy is a large group of stars and the universe is populated by galaxies. They can be arranged in many diverse shapes and sizes. There are large galaxies with supermassive black holes at their centers. The question, "What creates this diversity?" is one that many scientists are trying to answer. Galaxies form and evolve through interaction with other galaxies. Studying the dynamics of galaxy collisions and mergers is key to understanding the formation of the galaxies. Furthermore, galaxies form large scale structure in the universe. Some galaxies occupy crowded, gravitationally-bound regions called "galaxy clusters" and "galaxy groups," while others live in deserted areas called "general fields." With its wide field of view and light-gathering power, the Subaru Telescope examines the world of galaxies in different eras and environment.
Comment from researchers
Imaging capability for viewing detailed structures in a wide field of view is one of the strong points of the Subaru Telescope. Subaru is also capable of spectroscopic observations of many objects simultaneously. Using this wide field of view, astronomers can image the extended structure of nearby galaxies, as well as those billions of light years away. Complementary observations in other wavelengths, such as in the millimeter and the sub-millimeter region, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) will greatly help astronomers understand the evolution of galaxies.
Dr. Kouji Ohta
(Kyoto University)
