Scientific background to the UKST Hα survey

M. R W Masheder*, S. Phillipps, Q. A. Parker

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The dominant process in the evolution of spiral galaxies like our own is clearly the formation of new stars, and the leading optical indicator of this is Hα emission. Considering the tremendous importance of star formation and its variation within and between galaxies, it is surprising just how little survey work has been carried out at Hα. After the successful development of Tech Pan films for deep photographic imaging with the UKST, and given the particular sensitivity of Tech Pan at wavelengths near Hα, it was natural to consider the possibilities for a narrowband Hα imaging survey of large angular extent. This idea quickly developed into a full-blown survey of the whole of the Southern Milky Way, of the Magellanic Clouds, and of selected extragalactic regions of interest such as that around the Virgo Cluster. This special issue is devoted to the discussion of the details of making and using this survey.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)5-8
    Number of pages4
    JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
    Volume15
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 1998

    Keywords

    • Galaxies:general
    • HII regions
    • ISM:atoms
    • Stars:formation
    • Surveys

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