Star Formation & Stellar Evolution: Future Surveys & Instrumentation

TL;DR

Future astronomical surveys and advanced instrumentation like multi-object spectrographs and ELTs will revolutionize our understanding of stellar populations, galaxy evolution, and chemical histories across the universe.

Contribution

This paper discusses upcoming survey capabilities and introduces the MOSAIC instrument for the European ELT, highlighting future prospects in stellar and galactic studies.

Findings

Anticipated surveys will provide extensive stellar samples across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.

ELTs will enable stellar spectroscopy beyond the Local Group, broadening galaxy evolution research.

The paper outlines plans for the MOSAIC instrument to enhance future stellar population studies.

Abstract

The next generation of multi-object spectrographs (MOS) will deliver comprehensive surveys of the Galaxy, Magellanic Clouds and nearby dwarfs. These will provide us with the vast samples, spanning the full extent of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, that are needed to explore the chemistry, history and dynamics of their host systems. Further ahead, the Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) will have sufficient sensitivity and angular resolution to extend stellar spectroscopy well beyond the Local Group, opening-up studies of the chemical evolution of galaxies across a broad range of galaxy types and environments. In this contribution I briefly reflect on current and future studies of stellar populations, and introduce plans for the MOSAIC instrument for the European ELT.