MaNGA: Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory. Issue Volume 10:Issue S311(2014) (10th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bundy, Kevin
• Editors: Cappellari, Michele; Courteau, Stéphane
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 10:Issue S311(2014)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 103
• Publication Date: 2015-04-10
• Subjects: galaxies: evolution - galaxies: formation; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921315003476
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: I describe a new integral field spectroscopic survey called MaNGA (Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory). One of three core programs in the 6-year SDSS-IV project† that began on July 1st, 2014, MaNGA will deploy 17 fiber-bundle IFUs across the Sloan 2.5m Telescope's 3 degree field-of-view, targeting a mass-selected sample with a median redshift of 0.03, typical spatial resolution of 1-2 kpc, and a per-fiber signal-to-noise ratio of 4-8 in the outskirts of target galaxies. For each galaxy in the sample, MaNGA will provide maps and measured gradients of the composition and dynamics of both stars and gas. I discuss early results that highlight MaNGA's potential to shed light on the ionization and chemical enrichment of gas in galaxies, spatial patterns in their star formation histories, and the internal makeup of stellar populations. MaNGA's unprecedented data set will not only provide powerful new insight on galaxy formation and evolution but will serve as a valuable benchmark for future high-z observations from large telescopes and space-based facilities.