In:
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, American Astronomical Society, Vol. 200, No. 1 ( 2012-05-01), p. 4-
Abstract:
The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey (NGVS) is a program that uses the
1 deg 2 MegaCam instrument on the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope
to carry out a comprehensive optical imaging survey of the Virgo cluster, from its core to its virial radius—covering a total area of 104 deg 2 —in
the u * griz bandpasses. Thanks to a dedicated
data acquisition strategy and processing pipeline, the NGVS reaches a point-source depth of g ≈ 25.9 mag (10σ) and a surface
brightness limit of μ g ∼ 29 mag arcsec −2 (2σ above the mean sky level), thus superseding all previous optical studies of
this benchmark galaxy cluster. In this paper, we give an overview of the technical aspects of the survey, such as areal coverage, field placement, choice
of filters, limiting magnitudes, observing strategies, data processing and calibration pipelines, survey timeline, and data products. We also describe the
primary scientific topics of the NGVS, which include: the galaxy luminosity and mass functions; the color–magnitude relation; galaxy scaling relations; compact
stellar systems; galactic nuclei; the extragalactic distance scale; the large-scale environment of the cluster and its relationship to the Local
Supercluster; diffuse light and the intracluster medium; galaxy interactions and evolutionary processes; and extragalactic star clusters. In addition, we
describe a number of ancillary programs dealing with “foreground” and “background” science topics, including the study of high-inclination
trans-Neptunian objects; the structure of the Galactic halo in the direction of the Virgo Overdensity and Sagittarius Stream; the measurement of cosmic shear,
galaxy–galaxy, and cluster lensing; and the identification of distant galaxy clusters, and strong-lensing events.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0067-0049
,
1538-4365
DOI:
10.1088/0067-0049/200/1/4
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
American Astronomical Society
Publication Date:
2012
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2006860-8
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2207650-5
SSG:
16,12
