JAPC - UV Explorations of Galaxy Evolution

Speaker: Dr. Don Neill, CalTech

Topic: "UV Explorations of Galaxy Evolution"

Time: 2:00 PM, Friday, October 30th, 2009

Place: P-148 (refreshments will be served at 1:30 PM in P145A)

Abstract: The Galaxy Evolution Explorer is a NASA small Explorer mission consisting of a wide-field UV imaging satellite. Utilizing the wide-field of view and two simultaneous UV passbands (FUV at approx. 1500 Angstroms and NUV at approx. 2300 Angstroms) GALEX has allowed an exploration of the relationship between UV luminosity, UV color and star formation. The low background and high sensitivity of the detectors permits the measurement of very low-levels of star formation in previously undetected conditions. These include the outskirts of certain galaxies and in plumes of HI gas where optical signatures of star formation yielded no information. Certainly the most powerful use of these new capabilities is in combination with other wavelengths that allow us to understand the full SEDs of evolving galaxies from the local universe out to redshifts around z = 1. In this talk my aim is to describe the GALEX mission and its impact on our understanding of galaxy evolution. I will also focus on the relationship between supernovae and galaxy evolution through an ongoing project to use GALEX data to characterize supernova host galaxies.

Hosted by: Prof. William Welsh.

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