November 28, 2022
Stephanie Figuereo (UCSC), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Stefan Kimura (Willamette U), Rafael Nuñez (SFSU), Monika Soraisam (NOIRLab), and their SALVATION project research team use the Lick Observatory Shane 3-meter telescope and Kast spectrograph on Mount Hamilton, California to obtain spectra of variable stars and transients discovered by the Zwicky Transient Factory, with a focus on the Andromeda galaxy (M31). The spectra will be used to study stellar pulsations, rare phases of stellar evolution, and explosive events. M31 is located about 2.5 million light years from us.
November 18, 2022
Lara Cullinane (Johns Hopkins U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Margaret Lazzarini (Caltech), and their PHAT, PHAST, and PHATTER research teams use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai`i to obtain multi object spectra of high mass X-ray binary candidates and the general resolved stellar population in the disks of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies known as M31 and M33, respectively.
The spectra will be used to study the evolution of massive stars in binary systems, dynamical heating history of the stellar disks, and chemical evolution of the two galaxies. M31 and M33 are located about 2.5 million and 2.7 million light years from us, respectively.
November 17, 2022
Lara Cullinane (Johns Hopkins U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Margaret Lazzarini (Caltech), and their PHAT, PHAST, and PHATTER research teams use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai`i to obtain multi object spectra of high mass X-ray binary candidates and the general resolved stellar population in the disks of the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies known as M31 and M33, respectively.
The spectra will be used to study the evolution of massive stars in binary systems, dynamical heating history of the stellar disks, and chemical evolution of the two galaxies. M31 and M33 are located about 2.5 million and 2.7 million light years from us, respectively.
November 1, 2022
Stephanie Figuereo (UCSC), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Stefan Kimura (Willamette U), Rafael Nuñez (SFSU), Monika Soraisam (NOIRLab), and their SALVATION project research team use the Lick Observatory Shane 3-meter telescope and Kast spectrograph on Mount Hamilton, California to obtain spectra of variable stars and transients discovered by the Zwicky Transient Factory, with a focus on the Andromeda galaxy (M31). The spectra will be used to study stellar pulsations, rare phases of stellar evolution, and explosive events. M31 is located about 2.5 million light years from us.
October 29, 2022
Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Alessandro Savino (UC Berkeley), Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research team use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai’i to obtain multi object spectra of the resolved stellar population of the dwarf galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31). The spectra will be used to measure the dark matter content and chemical evolution of the dwarf galaxies. M31 is located about 2.5 million light years from us.
October 28, 2022
Sunil Simha (UCSC), J. Xavier Prochaska (UCSC), K.G. Lee (IPMU), and their research team use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai’i to obtain spectra of galaxies located 1-10 billion light years away. The spectra will be used to measure the nature of our Universe’s “cosmic web.”
October 23, 2022
Yuting Feng (UCSC), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Douglas Grion Filho (UCSC), Eric Peng (NOIRLab), Emily Cunningham (Columbia U), and their research team use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and ESI spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai`i to obtain spectra of RR Lyrae stars in the halo of our Milky Way galaxy that are located 0.25–0.5 million light years away. The spectra will be used to measure the dark matter content and assembly history of our Galaxy.
October 19, 2022
Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), Douglas Grion Filho (UCSC), Lara Cullinane (Johns Hopkins U), Ivanna Escala (Princeton U), Karrie Gilbert (STScI), Margaret Lazzarini (Caltech), Amanda Quirk (Columbia U), and their research team use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph on Maunakea, Hawai`i to obtain multi object spectra of the resolved stellar population of the disk of the Andromeda galaxy (M31).
The spectra will be used to study the dynamical evolution and chemical enrichment history of M31’s disk. M31 is located about 2.5 million light years from us.
October 15, 2022
Dr. Brian Lemaux (Gemini-N/NOIRLab), Dr. Ekta Shah (University of California, Davis), Dr. Ben Forrest (University of California, Davis), Prof. Roy Gal (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawai`i), and Ms. Priti Staab (University of California, Davis) use the Keck I 10-meter telescope on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i to look at a part of the sky called the Extended Chandra Deep Field South, made famous by being the subject of one of the deepest images ever recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope. This part of the sky has also been observed with NASA’s fleet of great space observatories as well as those from the European Space Agency. However, despite over two decades of observations in this part of the sky, some discoveries have been elusive.
The research team will observe galaxies using a technique called near-infrared multi-object spectroscopy with an instrument called MOSFIRE to target a large group of galaxies under formation when the universe was about 15% of its current age. This group of galaxies is suspected to house galaxies ripe with activity, from violent starbursts to energetic black holes. With these observations, they will be measuring the distances to galaxies, estimating the numbers of stars they form, the activity of their black holes, and how galaxies are transformed as they assemble into massive structures in the early Universe. For more information, please visit the C3VO/ORELSE survey webpage!
October 7, 2022
Join us for the inaugural Shadow the Scientists (StS) session at Gemini Observatory! The international Gemini Observatory consists of twin 8.1-meter diameter optical/infrared telescopes located on mountains in Hawai`i (Maunakea) and Chile (Cerro Pachón), enabling the telescopes to collectively access the entire sky.
The observing team for the 20221008 session is: Dr. Brian Lemaux, Dr. Charlie Figura, and Mr. Pablo Martin-Ravelo. Leading the StS session will be Ms. Jameeka Marshall and Dr. Zachary Hartman.
The observing team will be using the Gemini North telescope located near the summit of Maunakea on the island of Hawai`i, with the observations taking place remotely from the control room in the Hilo Base Facility. As opposed to “classical” observing nights that have been featured in all previous StS sessions, Gemini Observatory utilizes queue observing mode in which Gemini staff take observations on behalf of science teams from all over the world. On any given night, Gemini staff determine the conditions on the ground and in the sky, as well as the scientific priorities, and choose from a pool of scientific programs to observe. This means anything could be observed on any night!
The instruments available to the observing team during this session include the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS), Gemini Near InfraRed Imager (NIRI), and Gemini-North’s Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrometer (NIFS). Many of these instruments can be used with our ALTtitude conjugate Adaptive optics for the InfraRed (ALTAIR), which is Gemini’s natural/laser guide star adaptive optics system.
Observing targets for this session could range from asteroids in our solar system, massive stars, and distant galaxies, to supernovae, and even gamma-ray bursts. Come along for this cosmic adventure as we explore the Universe and share its wonders!
September 28, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 27, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 26, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 24, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 22, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 20, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
September 19, 2022
Evan Kirby (U of Notre Dame), Dan Weisz (UC Berkeley), Marla Geha (Yale U), Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), and their research collaborators will use the Keck II 10-meter telescope and DEIMOS spectrograph located on the summit of Maunakea on the Big Island of Hawai`i.
The team will simultaneously obtain spectra of multiple stars that belong to the resolved stellar population of some of the satellite galaxies that orbit around the Andromeda galaxy (M31) and the resolved population of stars in M31’s disk. These spectra will be used to measure the velocity and chemical composition of the stars. M31 and its satellite galaxies are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
August 20, 2022
The SALVATION project (Spectroscopic Analysis of Luminous Variables and Transients in our Neighbor) project is being conducted by the following research team members: Stephanie Figuero, Raja GuhaThakurta, and Kevin McKinnon (all at UCSC), Monika Soraisam (Gemini-North/NOIRLab), Rafael Nuñez (SFSU), and Stefan Kimura (Willamette U). The team uses Lick Observatory’s Shane 3-meter telescope and Kast spectrograph on Mount Hamilton, California to take spectra of variable stars and transients in the Andromeda galaxy (M31) that have been identified by the Zwicky Transient Factory. These stars are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
August 4, 2022
The SALVATION project (Spectroscopic Analysis of Luminous Variables and Transients in our Neighbor) project is being conducted by the following research team members: Stephanie Figuero, Raja GuhaThakurta, and Kevin McKinnon (all at UCSC), Monika Soraisam (Gemini-North/NOIRLab), Rafael Nuñez (SFSU), and Stefan Kimura (Willamette U).
The team uses the Lick Observatory’s Shane 3-meter telescope and Kast spectrograph on Mount Hamilton, California to take spectra of variable stars and transients in the Andromeda galaxy (M31) that have been identified by the Zwicky Transient Factory. These stars are located about 2.5 million light years from us.
July 9, 2022
In this StS session, Patricia Bolan (UC Davis), Maruša Bradač (UC Davis), Debora Pelliccia (UC Santa Cruz), Victoria Strait (Cosmic DAWN Center), Brian C. Lemaux (Gemini-N/NOIRLab), and Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), will be observing massive structures of galaxies, called galaxy clusters, using the Keck I 10-meter telescope on the summit of Maunakea on the big island of Hawai’i.
The primary goal of the team is, however, not to observe the galaxy clusters themselves, but to harness their awesome power as cosmic telescopes to gravitationally magnify very distant galaxies behind the clusters. These very distant galaxies are likely among some of the first that formed in the universe, when the universe is less than 10% of its current age! Very little is known about the properties of these primeval galaxies and the observations taken by the team will help to provide insights into their makeup and how they form and evolve, as well as the state of the universe about 13 billion years ago.
April 18, 2022
In this StS session, Patricia Bolan (UC Davis), Maruša Bradač (UC Davis), Debora Pelliccia (UC Santa Cruz), Victoria Strait (Cosmic DAWN Center), Brian C. Lemaux (Gemini-N/NOIRLab), and Raja GuhaThakurta (UCSC), observed massive structures of galaxies, called galaxy clusters, using the Keck I 10-meter telescope on the summit of Maunakea on the big island of Hawai’i.
The primary goal of the team was, however, not to observe the galaxy clusters themselves, but to harness their awesome power as cosmic telescopes to gravitationally magnify very distant galaxies behind the clusters. These very distant galaxies are likely among some of the first that formed in the universe, when the universe is less than 10% of its current age! Very little is known about the properties of these primeval galaxies and the observations that were taken by the team will help to provide insights into their makeup and how they form and evolve, as well as the state of the universe about 13 billion years ago.
January 11 and 12, 2022
Shadow the Scientists: Astronomy Night with Dr. Brian Lemaux (Gemini-N/NOIRLab), Dr. Olga Cucciati (Observatory of Bologna, Italy), Dr. Lu Shen (University of Science and Technology China), Dr. Roy Gal (Institute for Astronomy, UH), Dr. Ben Forrest (University of California, Davis), and Dr. Raja GuhaThakurta (University of California Santa Cruz), and graduate student Priti Staab (University of California, Davis).
On January 11, 2022, the team looked at a part of the sky called COSMOS, made famous by being the subject of one of the largest mosaic of images ever recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope. This part of the sky has also been observed with NASA’s fleet of great space observatories as well as those from the European Space Agency. However, despite over two decades of observations in this part of the sky, some discoveries have been elusive. In these observations, the team observed with the Keck II 10-meter telescope using a technique called optical multi-object spectroscopy to target two suspected large groups of galaxies under formation when the universe was about 10%–20% of its current age. With these observations, they will be measuring the distances to galaxies, estimating the numbers of stars they form, how the activity of their black holes, and how galaxies are transformed as they assemble into massive structures in the early Universe.
On January 12, 2022, the team observed COSMOS again, this time using the Subaru telescope. They explored a giant grouping of galaxies using a technique called narrowband imaging. This technique employs specialized filters that allows the the team to take pictures that are sensitive to the star-forming regions of galaxies. The grouping of galaxies is known as the Hyperion proto-supercluster, which was discovered by the team three years ago using observations from telescopes around the world. The Subaru observations will be used to continue to map out this structure of galaxies, to measure distances to galaxies within the structure, and to determine which parts of Hyperion contain galaxies that are rapidly forming stars.