Institute of Astronomy

Galactic Structure

Astronomers find remains of ancient globular cluster

Published on 05/01/2022 

An international team of researchers (including astrophysicists from the University of Cambridge) have discovered a the remains of a unique globular cluster which appears to be a relic from the very early Universe. 

Milky Way Galaxy

Milky Way research at the IoA involves reconstructing the assembly history of the Galaxy through observational work involving large scale surveys and theoritical studies with numerical simulations and galactic dynamics.

High Redshift Galaxies

By studying high redshift galaxies, we can learn about the evolution of galaxies throughout the history of the Universe.

Isolating the stellar discs of Andromeda

Published on 15/02/2011 

A team of astronomers from the UK, the US and Europe have identified a thick stellar disc in the nearby Andromeda galaxy for the first time. The discovery and properties of the thick disc will constrain the dominant physical processes involved in the formation and evolution of large spiral galaxies like our own Milky Way.

By analysing precise measurements of the velocities of individual bright stars within the Andromeda galaxy using the Keck telescope in Hawaii, the team have managed to separate out stars tracing out a thick disc from those comprising the thin disc, and assess how they differ in height, width and chemistry.