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NGST: Exploring the Fossil Record of Galaxy FormationDuring this grant period the investigator has accomplished the following: developed and researched the science case for high resolution optical imaging with NGST (Next Generation Space Telescope); presented to the ASWG (Ad-Hoc Science Working Group) on the use of NGST to image and measure the proper motions of white dwarf stars that could account for the MACHO events toward the LMC (Large Magellanic Cloud); wrote proposals for the Design Reference Mission. Three proposals have been written on the following topics: Measuring the faint end of the white dwarf luminosity function to get an independent measure of the age of the oldest stars, measurement of the stellar luminosity function over the full range of age, abundance, and population type, and deep imaging of Local Group halos to measure the relative ages of the oldest stars in the Milky Way and other galaxies; he has introduced simulations of crowded field stellar photometry on a hypothetical population in the M31 halo. Using a physically correct luminosity function and a surface brightness of 24.5 mag/sq. arcsec, NGST imaging in 10 hours easily measures the turnoff and reaches 3 mags down the main sequence in the halo of M31; and has delivered talks at the NGST workshop in Liege, and at the meeting in Paris entitled "Connecting the Distant Universe with the Local Fossil Record".
Document ID
19990041608
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Contractor or Grantee Report
Authors
Rich, R. Michael
(Columbia Univ. New York, NY United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
CAL-3052
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA Order S-96284-Z
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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