IAUS379: Dynamical Masses of Local Group Galaxies

Amongst the most stringent limitations in astronomy and cosmology are the very large uncertainties on galaxy masses and sizes. Yet, this topic is undergoing a revolution due to increasing knowledge of 6D space-velocity data for galaxies in the Local Group. This is driven by Gaia and numerous accompanying surveys that provide an accurate Milky Way rotation curve, detailed orbits of the nearby dwarf galaxies, and first estimates of the motions of dwarf irregulars and in the M31 system. This IAU Symposium has a very focused goal: Determining the mass of galaxies from dwarfs to giant spirals. However, it addresses a very broad range of astronomical fields (from studies of variable stars for estimating distances to dynamical modeling), of wave-lengths to be investigated (from radio and optical for estimating the HI gas and stellar content and their motions, to X-rays for estimating the warm and hot ionized gas), and has major implications for a fundamental question (from the distribution and nature of dark matter to alternative models). Measuring galaxy masses at different scales in the Local Group impacts a broad range of astronomy, from stars, star clusters, to the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and Cosmology.

Video Outreach Series:

As part of the IAU Symposium's public outreach program, PhD students Jamie K. Kanehisa and Mariana P. Júlio from the "Dwarf galaxies and the Galactic Halo" section at AIP, with help by Humboldt Fellow Pengfei Li, recorded and produced a series of interviews with researchers attending the conference.

The six videos are available on YouTube and on the AIP website.

This effort was supported via a KT Boost Fund (by the German Scholars Organization e.V. and Klaus Tschira Stiftung) of Marcel S. Pawlowski.

Proceedings:

The proceedings of the symposium are published by Cambridge University Press. Publication is planned for February 2025. See this link.

Key topics:

• Astrometry and 3D velocities: Gaia and HST
• Distances, Chemistry & Star formation in the Local Group: large surveys of resolved stars
• The Galaxy mass and size: rotation curve, halo stars, globular clusters 
• Galactic halo dwarf spheroidal and ultra-faint dwarfs
• Magellanic System: the Clouds, the Stream and the Leading Arm
• Dwarf irregular galaxies: dynamics, ram pressure effects
• Andromeda System: rotation curve, halo dwarfs
• Galaxy formation: histories of the Milky Way, of Andromeda, compared to field galaxies
• Near field cosmology: galaxy dynamics, dark matter content, cosmological models

Meeting information:

• Dates: 20.-24. March 2023
• Location: Potsdam Telegrafenberg, Germany
• Mode: primarily in-person, plus a limited number of online attendance slots will be made available
• Program: a mix of talks, discussions, and poster sessions.
• Workshop fee: 300 Euro (in-person) or 100 Euro (online).
• Registration open until December 31, 2022. Registration deadline extended to January 15 (midnight, CET). After January 15, registrations will only be accepted for virtual participation.
• Fee payment is not due at time of registration but before end of registration period.
• Abstract deadline: October 31, 2022 extended to Friday, November 4, 16:00 CET.

Invited review speakers

• Giuseppina Battaglia
• Ana Bonaca
• Souradeep Bhattacharya
• Elena d’Onghia
• Denija Crnojevic
• Federico Lelli
• Alan McConnachie

The SOC plans to select additional invited topical/highlight talks from the submitted abstracts.

Scientific Organizing Committee

Local Organizing Committee

Editors of Proceedings