The Galaxies of the Local Group

About this book

The Local Group is a small cluster of galaxies of which thirty-five members are currently known, including the Milky Way. With characteristic clarity of expression, Sidney van den Bergh provides a complete overview of all that is known about the galaxies of the Local Group and their evolution. He also places this knowledge in the wider context of continuing studies of galaxy formation and evolution, the cosmic distance scale, and the conditions in the early Universe. This volume thoroughly details our current understanding of each of the thirty-five members of the Local Group, as well as those galaxies previously regarded as possible members. The book goes on to examine the mass, stability and evolution of the Local Group as a whole and includes many important, previously unpublished results and conclusions.

Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Local group membership; 3. The Andromeda galaxy (M31); 4. The Milky Way system; 5. The Triangulum galaxy (M33); 6. The Large Magellanic Cloud; 7. The Small Magellanic Cloud; 8. The elliptical galaxy M32 (= NGC 221); 9. The irregular dwarf galaxy NGC 6822; 10. The starburst galaxy IC 10; 11. Faint dwarf irregular galaxies; 12. Spheroidal galaxies; 13. The most luminous dwarf spheroidal galaxies; 14. Dwarf spheroidals in the Andromeda subgroup; 15. Faint dwarf spheroidals; 16. The outer fringes of the Local Group; 17. Intergalactic matter in the Local Group; 18. Dynamical and physical evolution; 19. Properties of the Local Group; 20. Conclusions; Glossary; Bibliography; Object index.

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