Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology at Edinburgh

Lead Research Organisation: University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Inst for Astronomy

Abstract

Astronomical research at the University of Edinburgh covers a wide range of topics, which share the common aim of understanding the emergence of complex structures in the universe.

Publications

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Abazajian K (2009) THE SEVENTH DATA RELEASE OF THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series

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Adelman-McCarthy Jennifer K. (2007) The Fifth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES

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Adelman-McCarthy Jennifer K. (2008) The Sixth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES

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Adelman-McCarthy JK (2006) The Fourth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES

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Austermann J (2010) AzTEC half square degree survey of the SHADES fields â?? I. Maps, catalogues and source counts in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Baldry I (2010) Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA): the input catalogue and star-galaxy separation in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Bernard E (2012) The star formation history and dust content in the far outer disc of M31? The far outer disc of M31 in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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Best P (2009) Radio source populations: Results from SDSS in Astronomische Nachrichten

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Braine Jonathan (2007) The detection of molecular gas in the outskirts of NGC 6946 in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL

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Brandt T (2010) THE AGES OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA PROGENITORS in The Astronomical Journal

 
Description ERC Fellowships
Amount £4,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation European Research Council (ERC) 
Sector Public
Country Belgium
Start 09/2009 
End 09/2014
 
Description GAMA 
Organisation Australian Astronomical Observatory
Country Australia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Principal component sky subtraction. Redhsift-space distortion analysis.
Collaborator Contribution Ideas.
Impact GAMA survey extended to GAMA-II in 2010 (109 allocated AAT nights)
Start Year 2007
 
Title PROCESS AND APPARATUS 
Description The present invention relates to a process of bringing at least one subject data set into registration or conformity with a reference data set by electronic methods, each data set being a representation of a respective object. The process comprises: generating each of a plurality of candidate data sets (32) by applying a transformation to a reference data set, the transformation having predetermined variables that are changed such that each of the plurality of candidate data sets is a differently shifted or distorted reference data set; compressing each of the plurality of candidate data sets (34) to form a respective compressed candidate data set and compressing a subject data set (36) to form a compressed subject data set, the step of compressing comprising: determining a plurality of weighting vectors in dependence upon the predetermined variables, the number of weighting vectors being equal to the number of predetermined variables; multiplying all data in a candidate or subject data set by each weighting vector to provide respective, corresponding data elements of the compressed candidate or subject data set; comparing the compressed subject data set with each of the compressed candidate data sets and, in dependence on the comparisons, determining the transformation that has generated the candidate data set corresponding to the compressed candidate data set, which, of the plurality of compressed candidate data sets, provides a best match with the compressed subject data set (38, 40); and applying an inverse of the determined transformation to the subject data set (42). 
IP Reference WO2009040514 
Protection Patent granted
Year Protection Granted 2009
Licensed Yes
Impact Formation of spin-out company "Blackford Analysis"
 
Description ROE Visitor Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Multiple Edinburgh researchers regularly give talks that engage with the public, and particularly schools groups, under the auspices of the ROE Visitor Centre. These range from informal "meet the astronomer" sessions to more structured presentations on advances in astronomy.

Evidence of Short-Term Impact is provided by basic numbers, and immediate feedback from questionnaires etc. For example, the annual ROE Open Days attract ~2500 visitors of all ages, while ~6000 school-age children either visit ROE, or receive school visits each year. In addition, more than 50 community Dark Sky events have now been held throughout Scotland, and more than 800 teachers and educators have been trained to run Dark Sky activities. The IfA makes a major contribution towards this direct people contact; for example, in 2010, ten IfA post-graduate students contributed a combined total of over 300 hours to outreach activity. It is also possible to identify clear evidence of Long-Term Impact. For example, over 100 school teachers have attended our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses, and have been provided with Deep Space Resources (developed as part of the CPD work at ROE) for use in the classroom.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014