PhD Thesis: Investigating the Galactic Evolution of M101 with Deep Narrowband Imaging

Abstract

In this thesis, I present a series of in-depth studies on the nearby spiral galaxy M101 and its group environment. The M101 Group is a dynamic group, and thus it contains features both secular and tidal in origin: M101 is believed to have undergone an interaction with its most massive satellite NGC 5474 approximately 300 Myr ago. Each study utilized deep, wide-field, narrowband imaging from the Burrell Schmidt telescope targeting in the emission lines of Hα, Hβ, [OIII]λλ4959,5007, and [OII]λλ3726,3729.

Ray Garner

TAMU Astronomy Postdoctoral Researcher

I’m a scientist, Star Wars fan, and amateur photographer raised in Georgia. My research interests include galaxy evolution, star formation, satellite galaxies, and nebular diagnostics.