Read more
The Local Group is a small cluster of galaxies that includes the Milky Way. At least half of all galaxies in the Universe are thought to belong to similar groups. This authoritative volume provides a comprehensive synthesis of what is known about the Local Group. It begins with a summary of each member galaxy, as well as those galaxies previously regarded as possible members. The book examines the mass, stability and evolution of the Local Group as a whole and includes many important previously unpublished results and conclusions. With clarity, Professor van den Bergh provides a masterful summary of all that is known about the galaxies of the Local Group and their evolution, and expertly places this knowledge in the wider context of on-going studies of galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmic distance scale, and the conditions in the early Universe.
List of contents
Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Local group membership; 3. The Andromeda galaxy (M31); 4. The Milky Way system; 5. The Triangulum galaxy (M33); 6. The Large Magellanic Cloud; 7. The Small Magellanic Cloud; 8. The elliptical galaxy M32 (= NGC 221); 9. The irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 6822; 10. The starburst galaxy IC 10; 11. Faint dwarf irregular galaxies; 12. Spheroidal galaxies; 13. The most luminous dwarf spheroidal galaxies; 14. Dwarf spheroidals in the Andromeda subgroup; 15. Faint dwarf spheroidals; 16. The outer fringes of the Local Group; 17. Intergalactic matter in the Local Group; 18. Dynamical and physical evolution; 19. Properties of the Local Group; 20. Conclusions; Glossary; Bibliography; Object index.
Summary
A masterful summary of what is known about the Local Group (a galaxy cluster that includes the Milky Way), and expertly places this knowledge in the wider context of understanding galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmic distance scale, and the early Universe. Includes many important previously unpublished results.
