NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0529
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0529 |
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PI: R. Michael Rich, UCLA, rmr@astro.ucla.edu
Address: Physics Department, 430 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1547, USA
CoI: Andrea Kunder, CTIO
CoI: Christian Johnson, UCLA
CoI: Scott Michael, Indiana University
CoI: Will Clarkson, Indiana University
CoI: Mike Irwin, Institue of Astronomy, Cambridge
CoI: Rodrigo Ibata, Strasbourg Observatory
CoI: Mario Soto, University of La Serena
CoI: Zejko Ivezic, University of Washington
CoI: R. de Propris, ESO
CoI: Annie Robin, besancon Observatory
CoI: Andreas Koch, ZAH-Heidelberg
CoI: Mike Young, Indiana University
CoI: Caty Pilachowski, Indiana University
Title: The Blanco DECam Galactic Bulge Survey
Abstract:
We propose a survey of the Southern Galactic bulge and the core of
the Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal galaxy using the Dark Energy Camera on
the Blanco telescope. With its 3 sq. degree field of view, DECam will
provide SDSS ugriz photometry spanning the entirety of the bulge,
enabling a study of age and metallicity gradients in the main stellar
population. This is the only way to determine the resolution of serious
apparent contradictions in observations of the bulge. The application
of proper motion cleaning will enable identification of non-bulge stars
from the thin and thick disk populations, and will also isolate the core
of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy, mapping that system. The
unprecedented quality of data in bluer filters will improve our
definition of the X-shaped structure and test whether metal rich bar
stars are primarily responsible for it, as well as testing for the
presence of streams or other substructures in the bulge. The u filter
will enable a mapping and study of the hot blue horizontal branch in the
bulge, as well as enable metallicity/distance/reddening techniques
developed for SDSS to be applied to the study of the bulge. A team
experienced in both construction of large area maps and with
supercomputing access and experience will produce a dataset that will be
made available to the public.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013A-0529 |
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