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IR STIG Prima Seminar

Infrared Science and Technology Interest Group

IR STIG about IR STIG Prima Seminar

Location

Virtual

Dates

23 March 2026
12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT

Community

IR STIG

Type

Seminar

M82 y sus Primas con PRIMA: Spectroscopic Mapping of the M81 Group with FIRESS

Speaker

Rebecca Levy (Space Telescope Science Institute)

Abstract

The far-infrared (FIR) holds the key to understanding the energy balance in the interstellar medium (ISM) and circumgalactic medium (CGM), as FIR spectral lines govern gas heating and cooling. The M81 group is the nearest example of an interacting galaxy system (d=3.6 Mpc) and is expected to merge in the next 1-2 Gyr. This archetypal system has incredibly rich multiwavelength data. JWST, in particular, has enabled unprecedented studies of the starburst and outflow in M82.  This system is ideally poised for deep spectroscopic mapping with PRIMA. We propose to map a 100 kpc × 100 kpc (95.5' × 95.5') region of the M81 group using the high spectral resolution mode of FIRESS from 24-235μm (R~2000-20000, delta-V~15-150 km/s). This deep survey will ensure robust detections of critical FIR spectral lines in the member galaxies, tidal streams, mysterious features (such as the "Cap"), and halo overall, yielding an unprecedented view of gas heating and cooling over a range of environments. With this large program, PRIMA will deliver an unparalleled legacy dataset.

Seminar Connection

Please visit the P-CAST webpage https://prima.ipac.caltech.edu/page/p-cast for a link to join and to see all of our upcoming speakers! 

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Angled from the upper left corner to the lower right corner is a cone-shaped orange-red cloud known as Herbig-Haro 49/50. This feature takes up about three-fourths of the length of this angle. The upper left end of this feature has a translucent, rounded end. The conical feature widens slightly from the rounded end at the upper right down to the lower right. Along the cone there are additional rounded edges, like edges of a wave, and intricate foamy-like details, as well as a clearer view of the black background of space. In the upper left, overlapping with the rounded end of Herbig-Haro 49/50, is a background spiral galaxy with a concentrated blue center that fades outward to blend with red spiral arms. The background of space is speckled with some white stars and smaller, more numerous, fainter white galaxies throughout.