Structure and composition of the Milky Way and its satellites; stars, brown dwarfs, planets and the ISM
UH astronomers are addressing the key issues of the formation and evolution of cosmic objects that range over scales from high-mass stars to brown dwarfs and exoplanets. Our work includes the study of ultra-metal poor stars that are key witnesses of the first period of star formation in the Milky Way, and mass loss from evolved stars including supernovae.
We study the stellar population of Local Group galaxies, including the Milky Way, to trace age and metallicity gradients as well as their structure using stars in different evolutionary stages.
We lead on a number of major surveys, covering the optical, infrared and sub-mm, that will provide not only new objects to study in greater detail but will also deepen our knowledge of the structure of the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds.
Themes include: