The University of Arizona

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> JOINT COLLOQUIUM <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

DR. MARK DICKINSON Space Telescope Science Institute

"Observing the Assembly of Galaxies"

Wednesday Feb 26. 4:00 p.m. Steward Observatory Lecture Hall Room N210

Abstract: One basic goal of observational cosmology is to understand the mass assembly history of galaxies. Deep field surveys, particularly at infrared wavelengths, can tell at least part of this story, tracing the build-up of stellar mass in galaxies and in the universe as a whole. The Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) is a multi-facility initiative designed to address this question, and many others concerning the distant universe. We are collecting very deep observations on two survey fields using a wide range of facilities spanning X-ray through radio wavelengths, including NASA's Great Observatories: Hubble, SIRTF and Chandra. These data are being distributed to the astronomical community for research on galaxy formation and evolution. In particular, the GOODS SIRTF Legacy program will offer new leverage for studying the mass assembly history out to very high redshift. I will describe recent (pre-GOODS) work on this topic using deep near-infrared observations of the Hubble Deep Field North, and then give an introduction to GOODS, outlining the project, the status including results from our currently ongoing HST Treasury Program, and future directions using SIRTF.