The Stromlo Missing Satellites Survey

TL;DR

The Stromlo Missing Satellites Survey aims to comprehensively detect and analyze faint dwarf satellite galaxies around the Milky Way, testing dark matter models with unprecedented depth and coverage.

Contribution

It is the deepest and most extensive survey to date for optically elusive dwarf satellites, covering 20,000 sq deg with analysis of 150TB of CCD images across six photometric bands.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of Milky Way satellite distribution.

Constraints on dark matter models based on satellite properties.

Discovery potential for new dwarf galaxies.

Abstract

The Stromlo Missing Satellites (SMS) program is a critical endeavor to investigate whether cold dark matter cosmology is flawed in its ability to describe the matter distribution on galaxy scales or proves itself once again as a powerful theory to make observational predictions. The project will deliver unprecedented results on Milky Way satellite numbers, their distribution and physical properties. It is the deepest, most extended survey for optically elusive dwarf satellite galaxies to date, covering the entire 20,000 sq deg of the Southern hemisphere. 150TB of CCD images will be analysed in six photometric bands, 0.5-1.0 mag fainter than SDSS produced by the ANU SkyMapper telescope over the next five years. (For more details see: http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~jerjen/SMS_Survey.html)