RECORD
A pilot survey of stellar tidal streams in nearby spiral galaxies
Astrophysics · Submitted 17 Dec 2008
abstract compiled · 2026-09-23 · no language-model review
The authors' main claim As a pilot study, we have carried out ultra-deep, wide-field imaging of some spiral galaxies in the Local Volume, which has revealed external views of such stellar tidal streams at unprecedented detail, with data taken at small robotic telescopes (0.1-0.5-meter) that provide exquisite surface brightness sensitivity.
The compiled record
The paper's own sentences, arranged. Each label is drawn from a closed vocabulary; the number beside it is the probability the classifier gave that label. Numbers in the tables are the authors', checked by code. No sentence in this record was written by a model.
Open the compiled record
The abstract, sentence by sentence
Within the hierarchical framework for galaxy formation, merging and tidal interactions are expected to shape large galaxies to this day. While major mergers are quite rare at present, minor mergers and satellite disruptions - which result in stellar streams - should be common, and are indeed seen in both the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. As a pilot study, we have carried out ultra-deep, wide-field imaging of some spiral galaxies in the Local Volume, which has revealed external views of such stellar tidal streams at unprecedented detail, with data taken at small robotic telescopes (0.1-0.5-meter) that provide exquisite surface brightness sensitivity. The goal of this project is to undertake the first systematic and comprehensive imaging survey of stellar tidal streams, from a sample of ~50 nearby Milky-Way-like spiral galaxies within 15 Mpc, that features a surface brightness sensitivity of ~ 30 mag/arcsec^2 The survey will result in estimates of the incidence, size/geometry and stellar luminosity/mass distribution of such streams. This will not only put our Milky Way and M31 in context but, for the first time, also provide an extensive statistical basis for comparison with state-of-the-art, self-consistent cosmological simulations of this phenomenon.
background contribution method result interpretation main claim
| # | sentence | role | the authors' own work | states the main conclusion | strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s0 | Within the hierarchical framework for galaxy formation, merging and tidal interactions are expected to shape large galaxies to this day. | background 1.00 | 0.03 | 0.04 | hedged possibility 0.69 |
| s1 | While major mergers are quite rare at present, minor mergers and satellite disruptions - which result in stellar streams - should be common, and are indeed seen in both the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. | background 1.00 | 0.05 | 0.06 | asserted 0.91 |
| s2 | As a pilot study, we have carried out ultra-deep, wide-field imaging of some spiral galaxies in the Local Volume, which has revealed external views of such stellar tidal streams at unprecedented detail, with data taken at small robotic telescopes (0.1-0.5-meter) that provide exquisite surface brightness sensitivity. | method 0.57 | 0.97 | 0.10 | asserted 1.00 |
| s3 | The goal of this project is to undertake the first systematic and comprehensive imaging survey of stellar tidal streams, from a sample of ~50 nearby Milky-Way-like spiral galaxies within 15 Mpc, that features a surface brightness sensitivity of ~ 30 mag/arcsec^2 The survey will result in estimates of the incidence, size/geometry and stellar luminosity/mass distribution of such streams. | future work 0.49 | 0.18 | 0.07 | asserted 0.97 |
| s4 | This will not only put our Milky Way and M31 in context but, for the first time, also provide an extensive statistical basis for comparison with state-of-the-art, self-consistent cosmological simulations of this phenomenon. | interpretation 0.63 | 0.12 | 0.14 | asserted 0.94 |
What was examined, and what was not
- arXiv listing abstract v1
- full text
- figures and tables
- references and citing sentences
- relations to other papers
- P abstract
- S sections
- T body sentences
- C citations
- R cross-paper relations
The paper
Original abstract
Within the hierarchical framework for galaxy formation, merging and tidal interactions are expected to shape large galaxies to this day. While major mergers are quite rare at present, minor mergers and satellite disruptions - which result in stellar streams - should be common, and are indeed seen in both the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy. As a pilot study, we have carried out ultra-deep, wide-field imaging of some spiral galaxies in the Local Volume, which has revealed external views of such stellar tidal streams at unprecedented detail, with data taken at small robotic telescopes (0.1-0.5-meter) that provide exquisite surface brightness sensitivity. The goal of this project is to undertake the first systematic and comprehensive imaging survey of stellar tidal streams, from a sample of ~50 nearby Milky-Way-like spiral galaxies within 15 Mpc, that features a surface brightness sensitivity of ~ 30 mag/arcsec^2 The survey will result in estimates of the incidence, size/geometry and stellar luminosity/mass distribution of such streams. This will not only put our Milky Way and M31 in context but, for the first time, also provide an extensive statistical basis for comparison with state-of-the-art, self-consistent cosmological simulations of this phenomenon.
Human review
How the literature uses it
2 arXiv papers cite this in 2 sentences
Papers citing it · 1 sentence without a confident label
Cites it as background 1 paper
-
In the last decade, several streams, with both globular cluster and dwarf galaxy progenitors, have been discovered in the Milky Way [ref] , as well as in nearby galaxies [ref] .
An Orbit Fit for the Grillmair Dionatos Cold Stellar Stream · Introduction · 0.99
Discussion
Know something about this paper? Leave a comment, or highlight any passage above to comment on it.