NOIRLab - Galactic Immigration in the Andromeda Galaxy

Galaxies grow through mergers with other galaxies. Astronomers can uncover evidence of this in our galaxy by mapping the motions of stars. Using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) on the Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, astronomers have studied the merger history of the Andromeda Galaxy for the first time. In this podcast, Dr. Joan Najita describes this study and what we have learned about the immigration history of the Andromeda Galaxy.  Bios: Rob Sparks is in the Communications, Education and Engagement group at NSF’s NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona.   Dr. Joan Najita is an Astronomer at NOIRLab, the National Science Foundation’s research and development center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy. While her research is primarily aimed at understanding how stars form from interstellar clouds and how disks surrounding young stars evolve to produce planets and the chemical ingredients of life, she has a broad range of research interests, including massively multiplexed wide-field spectroscopy, low mass stars and brown dwarfs, the structure and origin of our galaxy, the Milky Way, the nature of discovery in astronomy and its science sociology and resource allocation practices. She is actively engaged in communicating science to the public and has a lifelong interest in the power of science to inspire and in the role of science in society.   Links:  NOIRLab Press Release: https://noirlab.edu/public/news/noirlab2304/  NOIRLab social media channels can be found at https://www.facebook.com/NOIRLabAstro https://twitter.com/NOIRLabAstro https://www.instagram.com/noirlabastro/ https://www.youtube.com/noirlabastro   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at [email protected].