Multi-wavelength View of the Magellanic Clouds
Abstract
The Magellanic Clouds (MCs) are the nearest neighboring galaxies that can be studied at high resolution while maintaining a global view. A large number of ground-based optical/radio/near-IR surveys of the MCs have become available, such as the Magellanic Cloud Emission-Line Survey; the ATCA+Parkes Surveys of the HI 21-cm line and radio continua at 3, 6, and 20 cm; the NANTEN CO Survey; the Magellanic Clouds Photometric Survey; and 2MASS. Surveys of the MCs at X-ray, UV and IR wavelengths have also been made with space-based observatories, such as ROSAT, Galex, MSX, and Spitzer. These surveys reveal a comprehensive view of the interstellar medium (ISM) from the cold molecular component through the cold and warm atomic components to the warm and hot ionized components along with a complete inventory of stars and proto-stars. These multi-wavelength data sets allow us to examine the star formation process and its relationship with the initial mass function, quantitatively assess the stellar energy feedback into the ISM, and study the physical structure of the ISM. Highlights from astrophysical studies using these multi-wavelength data sets will be presented.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2005
- Bibcode:
- 2005AAS...20714505C