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Galaxies are the largest objects in the universe formed from hundreds of billions of stars, every star you see in the night sky is contained in our galaxy the Milky Way. Possibly one of the hardest calculations undertaken by man is to simulate how these vast objects form and evolve. Durham University researchers are trying to work out the structure of the universe while sampling some of the best beers contained within it! Cinema Room @ The Town Wall Doors open at 7pm, Event 7.30-9.30pm. Please note that this venue is for over 18s and is not wheelchair accessible.
How to make a galaxy?
A look at the Hubble deep field shows that galaxies come in many shapes, sizes and colours: elliptical galaxies are red and ... well elliptical in shape, with spiral galaxies blue with most stars in a thin disk. Why is that? Which processes determine the properties of a galaxy? Can galaxies change type? How do they form in the first place? I will present results from the Eagle simulation of galaxy formation, which manages to reproduce the observed zoo of galaxies to try to answer these questions.
Colour by Numbers: Observing Virtual Galaxies
Simulations are becoming more and more important in understanding how galaxies form. With modern computers we can model the evolution of large chunks of the universe, while still being able to zoom in on scales important for galaxy formation. To compare simulated and observed galaxies, however, we must understand how the properties of galaxies translate into what they look like. I will explain how we can 'observe' the simulated galaxies of the EAGLE simulation, and how we can use these virtual observations to test our simulation and find new insight into the nature of the universe.
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