As galaxies evolve they eventually stop forming stars. There are a host of (sometimes violent) processes that can end star formation in galaxies. The authors examine how galaxy mass plays a role in stopping star formation for nearby galaxies.
The number and luminosity distribution of white dwarfs stars can be used to help figure out the past history of the Galactic halo.
Can bars in a galaxy cause radial migrations of stars? The simulations say yes, but these observations suggest otherwise…
The evolution of galaxies from one type to another is not well understood. A galaxy’s environment plays a key role in its evolution. This is especially important for galaxies in galaxy clusters, which can strip them of their gas. The authors in today’s Astrobite explore six new, dramatic examples of galaxies being stripped of their gas.
Once thought to be the main mechanism by which galaxies feed their star formation; the authors of this paper find that minor mergers cannot account for the observed star formation rates of galaxies.
High resolution computational simulations are a valuable means by which Astronomers test our understanding of the Universe, and make predictions. The world of computational astrophysics broke new ground recently with the highest resolution cosmological simulation to date, Illustris, making for some spectacular science and some spectacular images.