Skip to main content
Home

Navigation Menu

  • Back
  • About
    • Back
    • About

      Contact Us

      Business Address
      5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

      Washington , DC 20015
      United States place Map
      Call Us (202) 387-640
    • Who We Are
      • Back
      • Leadership
      • Our Blueprint For Discovery
      • Board of Trustees
      • Financial Stewardship
      • Awards & Accolades
      • History
    • Connect with Us
      • Back
      • Newsletter
      • Yearbook
    • Working at Carnegie
      • Back
      • Applications Open: Postdoctoral Fellowships

    Contact Us

    Business Address
    5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

    Washington , DC 20015
    United States place Map
    Call Us (202) 387-6400
  • Research
    • Back
    • Research Areas & Topics
    • Research Areas & Topics
      • Back
      • Research Areas
      • From genomes to ecosystems and from planets to the cosmos, Carnegie Science is an incubator for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research.
      • Astronomy & Astrophysics
        • Back
        • Astronomy & Astrophysics
        • Astrophysical Theory
        • Cosmology
        • Distant Galaxies
        • Milky Way & Stellar Evolution
        • Planet Formation & Evolution
        • Solar System & Exoplanets
        • Telescope Instrumentation
        • Transient & Compact Objects
      • Earth Science
        • Back
        • Earth Science
        • Experimental Petrology
        • Geochemistry
        • Geophysics & Geodynamics
        • Mineralogy & Mineral Physics
      • Ecology
        • Back
        • Ecology
        • Atmospheric Science & Energy
        • Adaptation to Climate Change
        • Water Quality & Scarcity
      • Genetics & Developmental Biology
        • Back
        • Genetics & Developmental Biology
        • Adaptation to Climate Change
        • Developmental Biology & Human Health
        • Genomics
        • Model Organism Development
        • Nested Ecosystems
        • Symbiosis
      • Matter at Extreme States
        • Back
        • Matter at Extreme States
        • Extreme Environments
        • Extreme Materials
        • Mineralogy & Mineral Physics
      • Planetary Science
        • Back
        • Planetary Science
        • Astrobiology
        • Cosmochemistry
        • Mineralogy & Mineral Physics
        • Planet Formation & Evolution
        • Solar System & Exoplanets
      • Plant Science
        • Back
        • Plant Science
        • Adaptation to Climate Change
        • Nested Ecosystems
        • Photosynthesis
        • Symbiosis
    • Divisions
      • Back
      • Divisions
      • Biosphere Sciences & Engineering
        • Back
        • Biosphere Sciences & Engineering
        • About

          Contact Us

          Business Address
          5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

          Washington , DC 20015
          United States place Map
          Call Us (202) 387-640
        • Research
        • Culture
      • Earth & Planets Laboratory
        • Back
        • Earth & Planets Laboratory
        • About

          Contact Us

          Business Address
          5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

          Washington , DC 20015
          United States place Map
          Call Us (202) 387-640
        • Research
        • Culture
        • Campus
        • Safety
      • Observatories
        • Back
        • Observatories
        • About

          Contact Us

          Business Address
          5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

          Washington , DC 20015
          United States place Map
          Call Us (202) 387-640
        • Research
        • Culture
        • Campus
    • Instrumentation
      • Back
      • Instrumentation
      • Our Telescopes
        • Back
        • Our Telescopes
        • Magellan Telescopes
        • Swope Telescope
        • du Pont Telescope
      • Observatories Machine Shop
      • EPL Research Facilities
      • EPL Machine Shop
      • Mass Spectrometry Facility
      • Advanced Imaging Facility
  • People
    • Back
    • People
      Observatory Staff

      Featured Staff Member

      Staff Member

      Staff Member

      Professional Title

      Learn More
      Observatory Staff

      Search For

    • Search All People
      • Back
      • Staff Scientists
      • Leadership
      • Biosphere Science & Engineering People
      • Earth & Planets Laboratory People
      • Observatories People
    Observatory Staff
    Dr. Anthony Piro
    Staff Scientist

    Featured Staff Member

    Tony Piro headshot

    Dr. Anthony Piro

    Staff Scientist

    Learn More
    Observatory Staff
    Dr. Anthony Piro
    Staff Scientist

    Anthony Piro is a theoretical astrophysicist with a broad interest in topics involving black holes and neutron stars, astrophysical explosions, accretion flows, and planetary dynamics.

    Search For

    Search All Staff
  • Events
    • Back
    • Events
    • Search All Events
      • Back
      • Public Events
      • Biosphere Science & Engineering Events
      • Earth & Planets Laboratory Events
      • Observatories Events

    Upcoming Events

    Events

    Events

    Spooky Social Banner Art
    Public Program

    Planet X, Killer Asteroids & Other Things Lurking in Space

    Scott Sheppard

    October 29

    7:00pm EDT

    EPL Open House Banner Purple
    Public Program

    Earth & Planets Laboratory Open House

    Earth & Planets Laboratory

    October 24

    1:00pm EDT

    Visitors take a selfie in front of the VizLab at the Carnegie Observatories Open House, 2022
    Public Program

    Observatories Open House

    Carnegie Science Observatories

    October 11

    2:00pm PDT

  • News
    • Back
    • News
    • Search All News
      • Back
      • Biosphere Science & Engineering News
      • Earth & Planets Laboratory News
      • Observatories News
      • Carnegie Science News
    News

    Recent News

    News

    Latest

    • - Any -
    • Biosphere Sciences & Engineering
    • Carnegie Science
    • Earth & Planets Laboratory
    • Observatories
    expand_more
    Read all News
    Moh El-Naggar in the lab, courtesy of Olga Burymska/USC.
    Breaking News
    September 08, 2026

    Biophysicist Moh El-Naggar named Carnegie’s second Biosphere Sciences and Engineering Director

    Astronomy LEcture Series Galactic Rotation
    Breaking News
    September 02, 2026

    Season Recap: Four Big Questions from the 2026 Astronomy Lecture Series

    Jeff Rich and the ruling engine
    Breaking News
    August 31, 2026

    Object 21 | Ruling Engines and Diffraction Gratings

  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
      • Back
      • Carnegie Science Store
    • Search All
      • Back
      • Employee Resources
      • Scientific Resources
      • Postdoc Resources
      • Media Resources
      • Archival Resources
    • Quick Links
      • Back
      • Employee Intranet
      • Dayforce
      • Careers
      • Observing at LCO
      • Locations and Addresses
  • #Carnegie125
    • Back
    • #Carnegie125
    • 125 Objects
  • Donate
    • Back
    • Donate
      - ,

    • Make a Donation
      • Back
      • Support Scientific Research
      • The Impact of Your Gift
      • Carnegie Champions
      • Planned Giving
    Jo Ann Eder

    I feel passionately about the power of nonprofits to bolster healthy communities.

    - Jo Ann Eder , Astronomer and Alumna

    Header Text

    Postdoctoral alumna Jo Ann Eder is committed to making the world a better place by supporting organizations, like Carnegie, that create and foster STEM learning opportunities for all. 

    Learn more arrow_forward
  • Home

Abstract
The Inamori-Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph is nearing completion. This reimaging spectrograph will have fields of view of 15 arcmin and 27 arcmin in its relecting grating and grism spectrographic modes, respectively, the largest such areas available on one of the new generation of large optical-IR ground-based telescopes. In addition to wide field imaging and a range of low- to medium-resolution spectroscopic modes, IMACS will have a 2 x 1000 fiber-fed integral field unit built by Durham University, an ecellette mode, and the potential for a full-field tunable filter. We review some of the planned science programs for IMACS, ranging from spectroscopy of stars in the Galactic halo and nearby dwarf spheroidal galaxies, the search for stars between galaxies, internal kinematics in normal galaxies and AGN, and the evolution of high redshift galaxies and galaxy clusters.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
The Inamori Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph (IMACS) will soon be one of the three first-generation instruments for the Magellan 6.5m telescopes. This instrument drove the specification and design of the f/11 Gregorian focus on Magellan, which it uses to feed an all-spherical, refracting wide-field collimator with a 30 arcmin field of view. Two Epps cameras are used to re-image the field of view for imaging and spectroscopy. The aspheric, f/2 ("short") camera images a field of 27 x 27 arcmin at 0.2 arcsec/pixel, and produces 0.32 arcsec images averaged over all field positions across the 0.39-1.05 micron-bandpass. The all-spherical f/4 ("long") camera images a field 15 x 15 arcmin at 0.11 arcsec/pixel, and produces 0.16 arcsec images averaged over all field positions across the 0.365-1.0 micron bandpass. This paper describes the final specifications for the multiple spectrographic and imaging modes, and provides a status report on the current state of the instrument project.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We present axisymmetric, orbit superposition models for 12 galaxies using data taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and ground-based observatories. In each galaxy, we detect a central black hole (BH) and measure its mass to accuracies ranging from 10% to 70%. We demonstrate that in most cases the BH detection requires both the HST and ground-based data. Using the ground-based data alone does provide an unbiased measure of the BH mass (provided that they are fitted with fully general models), but at a greatly reduced significance. The most significant correlation with host galaxy properties is the relation between the BH mass and the velocity dispersion of the host galaxy; we find no other equally strong correlation and no second parameter that improves the quality of the mass-dispersion relation. We are also able to measure the stellar orbital properties from these general models. The most massive galaxies are strongly biased to tangential orbits near the BH, consistent with binary BH models, while lower mass galaxies have a range of anisotropies, consistent with an adiabatic growth of the BH.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We present stellar kinematics for a sample of 10 early-type galaxies observed using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope and the Modular Spectrograph on the MDM Observatory 2.4 m telescope. These observations are a part of an ongoing program to understand the coevolution of supermassive black holes and their host galaxies. Our spectral ranges include either the calcium triplet absorption lines at 8498, 8542, and 8662 Angstrom or the Mg b absorption at 5175 Angstrom. The lines are used to derive line-of-sight velocity distributions (LOSVDs) of the stars using a maximum penalized likelihood method. We use Gauss-Hermite polynomials to parameterize the LOSVDs and find predominantly negative h4 values (boxy distributions) in the central regions of our galaxies. One galaxy, NGC 4697, has significantly positive central h4 (high tail weight). The majority of galaxies have a central velocity dispersion excess in the STIS kinematics over ground-based velocity dispersions. The galaxies with the strongest rotational support, as quantified with v(max)/sigma(STIS), have the smallest dispersion excess at STIS resolution. The best-fitting, general, axisymmetric dynamical models (described in a companion paper) require black holes in all cases, with masses ranging from 10(6.5) to 10(9.3) M-.. We replot these updated masses on the M-BH-sigma relation and show that the fit to only these 10 galaxies has a slope consistent with the fits to larger samples. The greatest outlier is NGC 2778, a dwarf elliptical with relatively poorly constrained black hole mass. The two best candidates for pseudobulges, NGC 3384 and NGC 7457, do not deviate significantly from the established relation between M-BH and sigma. Neither do the three galaxies that show the most evidence of a recent merger, NGC 3608, NGC 4473, and NGC 4697.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We report the discovery of two new gravitationally lensed quasars, WFI J2026-4536 and WFI J2033-4723, at respective source redshifts of z = 2.23 and z = 1.66. Both systems are quadruply imaged and have similar PG 1115 - like image configurations. WFI J2026 - 4536 has a maximum image separation of 1."4, a total brightness of g = 16.5, and a relatively simple lensing environment, while WFI J2033 - 4723 has a maximum image separation of 2."5, an estimated total brightness of g approximate to 17.9, and a more complicated environment of at least six galaxies within 2000. The primary lensing galaxies are detected for both systems after point-spread function subtraction. Several of the broadband flux ratios in these systems show a strong (0.1 - 0.4 mag) trend with wavelength, suggesting either microlensing or differential extinction through the lensing galaxy. For WFI J2026 - 4536, the total quasar flux has dimmed by 0.1 mag in the blue but only half as much in the red over 3 months, suggestive of microlensing-induced variations. For WFI J2033 - 4723, resolved spectra of some of the quasar components reveal emission-line flux ratios that agree better with the macromodel predictions than either the broadband or continuum ratios, also indicative of microlensing. The predicted differential time delays for WFI J2026 - 4536 are short, ranging from 1 to 2 weeks for the long delay, but are longer for WFI J2033 - 4723, ranging from 1 to 2 months. Both systems hold promise for future monitoring campaigns aimed at microlensing or time delay studies.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We have formed "composite spectra'' by combining the integrated-light spectra of individual galaxies in eight intermediate-redshift and 12 low-redshift clusters of galaxies. Because these composite spectra have much higher signal-to-noise ratios than individual galaxy spectra, they are particularly useful in quantifying general trends in star formation for galaxy populations in distant clusters, z > 0.3. By measuring diagnostic features that represent stellar populations of very different ages, a grand composite spectrum can reflect the fractions of those populations as accurately as if excellent spectral measurements were available for each galaxy. Such composite spectra can also be useful in the study of finer spectral signatures, for example, spectral indices that break the age-metallicity degeneracy, and the shape of the Hdelta absorption line as an indicator of the age and duration of an epoch of starbursting galaxies in a cluster. Measuring the equivalent widths of spectral features in composite spectra is especially well suited for comparing the cosmic variance of star formation in clusters at a given redshift or comparing clusters over a range of redshifts. When we do this we find that [O II] emission and especially Balmer absorption is strong in each of our intermediate-redshift clusters and completely separable from a sample of 12 present-epoch clusters, where these features are weak. Cluster-to-cluster variations at a given epoch seem to be smaller than the strong trend in redshift, which suggests that cosmic evolution is the major factor in the star formation histories of cluster galaxies. Specifically, we show by comparison with the Hdelta strengths of present-epoch populations of continuously star-forming galaxies that the higher redshift samples must contain a much higher fraction of starburst galaxies than are found today in any environment.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We measure the morphology-density relation of galaxies at z = 1 across the full 3 orders of magnitude in projected galaxy density available in low-redshift studies. Our study adopts techniques that are comparable with those applied at lower redshifts, allowing a direct investigation of how the morphological segregation of galaxies has evolved over the last 8 Gyr. Although the morphology-density relation, as described by the fraction of early-type (E+S0) galaxies, was in place at z = 1, its form differs from that observed at both z = 0 and z = 0.5. In the highest density regions the early-type fraction has increased steadily with time from f(E+S0) = 0.7+/-0.1 at z = 1 to f(E+S0) = 0.9+/-0.1 at the present epoch. However, in intermediate-density regions corresponding to groups and the accretion regions of rich clusters, significant evolution appears to begin only after z = 0.5. Finally, at the lowest densities, no evolution is observed for the early-type fraction of field galaxies, which remains constant at f(E+S0) = 0.4+/-0.1 at all epochs. We examine a simple picture consistent with these observations where the early-type population at z = 1 is comprised largely of elliptical galaxies. Subsequent evolution in both intermediate and dense regions is attributed to the transformation of spirals into lenticulars. Further progress in verifying our hypothesis may be achieved through distinguishing ellipticals and lenticulars at these redshifts through resolved dynamical studies of representative systems.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We present observations of 77 early-type galaxies imaged with the PC1 CCD of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFPC2. "Nuker-law'' parametric fits to the surface brightness profiles are used to classify the central structure into "core'' or "power-law'' forms. Core galaxies are typically rounder than power-law galaxies. Nearly all power-law galaxies with central ellipticities epsilon >= 0.3 have stellar disks, implying that disks are present in power-law galaxies with epsilon < 0.3 but are not visible because of unfavorable geometry. A few low-luminosity flattened core galaxies also have disks; these may be transition forms from power-law galaxies to more luminous core galaxies, which lack disks. Several core galaxies have strong isophote twists interior to their break radii, although power-law galaxies have interior twists of similar physical significance when the photometric perturbations implied by the twists are evaluated. Central color gradients are typically consistent with the envelope gradients; core galaxies have somewhat weaker color gradients than power-law galaxies. Nuclei are found in 29% of the core galaxies and 60% of the power-law galaxies. Nuclei are typically bluer than the surrounding galaxy. While some nuclei are associated with active galactic nuclei (AGNs), just as many are not; conversely, not all galaxies known to have a low-level AGN exhibit detectable nuclei in the broadband filters. NGC 4073 and 4382 are found to have central minima in their intrinsic starlight distributions; NGC 4382 resembles the double nucleus of M31. In general, the peak brightness location is coincident with the photocenter of the core to a typical physical scale of < 1 pc. Five galaxies, however, have centers significantly displaced from their surrounding cores; these may be unresolved asymmetric double nuclei. Finally, as noted by previous authors, central dust is visible in about half of the galaxies. The presence and strength of dust correlates with nuclear emission; thus, dust may outline gas that is falling into the central black hole. The prevalence of dust and its morphology suggest that dust clouds form, settle to the center, and disappear repeatedly on similar to 10(8) yr timescales. We discuss the hypothesis that cores are created by the decay of a massive black hole binary formed in a merger. Apart from their brightness profiles, there are no strong differences between core galaxies and power-law galaxies that demand this scenario; however, the rounder shapes of core, their lack of disks, and their reduced color gradients may be consistent with it.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We investigate the effect of a low-level contamination of hot, old, metal-poor starlight on the inferred stellar populations of early-type galaxies in the core of the Coma Cluster. We find that the required correction to the Balmer and metal absorption-line strengths for old, metal-poor stars does not significantly affect the inferred age of the stellar population when the HP strength is large. Intermediate-aged populations are therefore still needed to explain enhanced Balmer-line strengths in early-type galaxies. This gives us increased confidence in our age estimates for these objects. For galaxies with weak Balmer-line strengths corresponding to very old populations (t > 10 Gyr), however, a correction for hot stars may indeed alter the inferred age, as previously suggested. Finally, the inferred metallicity [Z/H] will always be higher after any correction for old, metal-poor starlight than if it were not taken into account, but the enhancement ratios [E/Fe] will strengthen only slightly.
View Full Publication open_in_new
Abstract
We report results from a panoramic spectroscopic survey of 955 objects in the field of the rich cluster Cl 0024+1654 (z similar or equal to 0.4), complementing the HSTimaging presented in the first paper in this series. Combining with previous work, we compile a catalog of 1394 unique redshifts in the field of this cluster, including 486 cluster members spread across an area 10 Mpc in diameter. Our new spectroscopic sample includes over 200 high-quality spectra of cluster members. We examine the properties of a large sample of 104 cluster early-type galaxies as a function of cluster radius and local density, using them as sensitive tracers of the various physical processes that may be responsible for galaxy evolution. By constructing the fundamental plane of Cl 0024, we infer an evolution in the mean mass-to-light ratio of early-type galaxies with respect to z = 0 of Delta log (M/L-V) = -0.14 +/- 0.02. In the cluster center, we detect a significantly increased scatter in the relationship compared to that seen in local clusters. Moreover, we observe a clear radial trend in the mass-to-light ratios of individual early-type galaxies, with the oldest galaxies located in the cluster core. Galaxies are apparently younger at larger radius, with E+S0 galaxies in the periphery having M/L-V ratios that nearly match values seen in the field at a similar redshift. The strong radial trend is seen even when the sample is restricted to a narrow range in galaxy mass. Independent spectral indicators used in combination reveal an abrupt interaction with the cluster environment that occurs near the virial radius of Cl 0024, revealed by small bursts of star formation in a population of dim early-type galaxies, as well as by enhanced Balmer absorption for a set of larger E+S0 galaxies closer to the cluster core. We construct a simple infall model used to compare the timescales and strengths of the observed interactions in this cluster. We examine the possibility that bursts of star formation are triggered when galaxies suffer shocks as they encounter the intracluster medium, or by the onset of galaxy harassment.
View Full Publication open_in_new

Pagination

  • Previous page chevron_left
  • …
  • Page 366
  • Page 367
  • Page 368
  • Page 369
  • Current page 370
  • Page 371
  • Page 372
  • Page 373
  • Page 374
  • …
  • Next page chevron_right
Subscribe to

Get the latest

Subscribe to our newsletters.

Privacy Policy
Home
  • Instagram instagram
  • Twitter twitter
  • Youtube youtube
  • Facebook facebook

Science

  • Biosphere Sciences & Engineering
  • Earth & Planets Laboratory
  • Observatories
  • Our Research Areas
  • Our Blueprint For Discovery

Legal

  • Financial Statements
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Equal Opportunity Employment

Careers

  • Working at Carnegie
  • Scientific and Technical Jobs
  • Administrative & Support Jobs
  • Postdoctoral Program
  • Carnegie Connect (For Employees)

Contact Us

  • Contact Administration
  • Media Contacts

Business Address

5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW

Washington, DC 20015

place Map

© Copyright Carnegie Science 2026