Research: Galaxies

The Antennae is a pair of spiral galaxies in the process of collision. The gravitational interaction pulls off long tidal tails composed of stars, gas and dust, in a way which has been well reproduced by computer simulations. Observations at many wavelengths show that stars are forming actively within the two galaxies, triggered by the interaction, and also along the interface between the two discs. In the X-ray, large plumes of hot gas are seen streaming away from the galaxies.

Work is underway at Birmingham on various aspects of galaxies, including the X-ray properties of spiral and elliptical galaxies,  colour-magnitude relations, star formation properties and ages of galaxies in a range of environments, and the  study of starburst, merging and post-merger galaxies.

Click below for further information on:

Starburst Galaxies			Starburst-driven Galactic Winds
Normal Spiral Galaxies			Elliptical Galaxies