Star Formation Across the Milky Way Galaxy Held at ESO, Vitacura, Chile, 3–6 March 2008
Astronomical News
Report on the International Workshop on Star Formation Across the Milky Way Galaxy held at ESO, Vitacura, Chile, 3–6 March 2008
Michael Sterzik, Jorge Melnick, Intended as a ‘prelude’ to the entire work- galactic discs was reviewed by Preben Claudio Melo (all ESO) shop, global star formation was intro- Grosbøl, and the models of spiral shocks duced by Bruce Elmegreen, who outlined including clumps, magnetic fields and the main physical processes responsi- bars remain an active field of research, The workshop “Star Formation Across ble for large-scale structuring in galaxies: given the difficulties and uncertainties to the Milky Way Galaxy” brought four days gravitational instabilities; turbulent com- precisely map the spiral structure of of intensive scientific discussions and pression; and sequential triggering. The our Galaxy on the far side (Leo Blitz). In excellent presentations to our Vitacura predictions of fundamental theoretical this context, more global agents like premises in Chile. The idea of the work- considerations appear to agree well with the interaction with satellite galaxies, and shop was to trace star-formation activity the observed global structure of star-for- in particular the LMC, may act as an spatially spanning outward from the mation regions in galaxies. external trigger for star-forming activity in Solar Neighborhood, nearby star-forming the outer parts of the Milky Way (Giovanni regions and OB associations, to spiral Starting with the immediate Solar Neigh- Carraro). arms, the Galactic disc, around the cen- borhood, the closest star-forming regions tral bar and bulge, and towards the allow the most detailed, and highest Is there a dominant mode of star forma- Galactic Centre. We aimed to link differ- spatial resolution studies, as reviewed by tion? According to Tom Megeath, and ent communities that usually work on João Alves. He highlighted the power of his impressive collection of images show- specific scales and environments, and the near-infrared cloud extinction map- ing the spatial dis tribution of young stars thus had asked some of the most pres- ping (NICER) technique, and discussed based on Spitzer, Chandra and ground- tigious and acknowledged scientists the relation of cloud core stability to the based surveys, there is a continuum in the field to help to develop a synoptic stellar initial mass function, and multiplic- of scales and environments in which star view of our current understanding of ity. John Bally gave an impressive view formation happens, ranging from relative Galactic star formation. Almost all speak- on star formation in the Orion complex, isolation to the densest regions in Giant ers in our ‘wish-list’ immediately agreed the nearest site of ongoing high- and low- Molecular Clouds (GMCs). This view is to come the long way down to Chile. This mass star formation. Orion allows to ad- backed up by the analysis of hierarchical event confirmed once again that ESO/ dress some of the most fundamental structures and substructures, and favours Chile and its faculty have become a prime questions in star formation, such as: How a scale-free fragmentation and formation address for international conferences do massive stars form? Do most stars process. of the finest scientific quality (see also the form in clusters? Are dynamical proc- report on last year’s conference on esses dominant during star formation? In Is the stellar Initial Mass Function the “Observing Planetary Systems”, reported addition, Thierry Montmerle pointed out same in clusters and in the field? Accord- in The Messenger, 128, 72, 2007). the relevance of the high X-ray activity of ing to Jorge Melnick, there is no evidence young stars to star and planet formation to assume the contrary (e.g., a top-heavy We present a short summary of some, through the effects of feedback. UKIDSS IMF), based on careful analysis of the subjectively selected, scientific high- and the GLIMPS survey enable deep stellar masses in several young massive lights that were discussed during views into star-formation activity in the clusters. Another, often controversial, the workshop. All 45 oral presentations Galactic Plane and were highlighted by and 19 posters contributions can be Phil Lucas. accessed and downloaded through The participants at the ESO/Vitacura conference a dedicated page: http://www.eso.org/ The classical picture of the relation of star on “Star Formation across the Milky Way Galaxy” sci/meetings/MilkyWayStarFormation/ formation and spiral density waves in assembled on the lawn.
The Messenger 132 – June 2008 49 Astronomical News
aspect of star formation in clusters is what surprisingly high star-forming effi- ing relations, such as the relation of early mass segregation as expected from ciency and rate are found, as evidenced gas densities with star-formation rates N-body models, and Joana Ascenso either by the strong X-ray emission known from other galaxies, hold in the cautioned against an interpretation with- (Sergei Nayakshin), or by the apparent Milky Way. out careful consideration of the low- over-abundance of many young O stars number statistics at the high-mass end. in the immediate surroundings of the Coffee breaks including ample snacks, Mark Gieles examined the short, but massive black hole at the centre of our well-organised poster exhibitions, and dramatic, phase when expulsion of natal Galaxy (Andrea Stolte), which seems to delicious cocktails in the garden of our gas from clusters results in “infant mortal- bias the IMF in this environment. Vitacura office contributed to the friendly ity”. Hans Zinnecker reminded us that and stimulating atmosphere of this probably up to half of all stars in the Milky Francesco Palla concluded and summa- workshop. The conference dinner in the Way form in open clusters. rised the workshop with an excellent vineyard Casa del Bosque will remain ‘postlude’. With our current understand- a memorable event for many participants. Stellar populations towards the inner ing, the ‘problem’ of star formation is Many thanks to Maria-Eugenia Gomez bulge and bar were reviewed by Fred probably not solved. There is a bewilder- and her team who, once again, managed Schuller (as seen through ISO, Spitzer, ing diversity of star-forming regions, and flawless and efficient local organisation and APEX), and Livia Origlia (through a continuum of star formation from isola- for more than 100 guests. We are all look- characterisation by their kinematical, tion to dense clustering, on many scales, ing forward to next year’s ESO workshop chemical and evolutionary properties, and no single theory may be able to hosted in our ESO-Chile ‘science head- mainly from near-infrared spectroscopy). catch and explain all relevant processes. quarters’! Towards the Galactic Centre a some- It remains also to be seen if global scal-
Announcement of the ESO Workshop on Large Programmes
13–15 October 2008, Garching, Germany O
Over the first ten years of science opera- The presentations will be followed by a S , E r tions of the VLT, 15 % of the science time discussion session on the general scien- e y e
has been devoted to the execution of tific impact of ESO facilities. . H
Large Programmes. In May 2003, ESO . H : H o t organised a Large Programmes work- One of the outcomes of the May 2003 o h shop to obtain a first assessment of the Large Programme workshop was a sug- P scientific return of Large Programmes. gestion that ESO store the legacy data In agreement with its Observing Pro- products of Large Programmes in its sci- grammes Committee (OPC), ESO is plan- ence archive. This suggestion was imple- ning a further overview of the scien- mented with the requirement that Large tific results achieved through Large Programmes that started after 1 April Programmes conducted at the La Silla 2005 deliver Advanced Data Products Paranal Observatory. To this effect, (ADP) to the ESO archive at the time ESO is organising a three-day workshop of publication of their results in a refereed in Garching. journal. The workshop will also feature a presentation of the ADP submission The workshop will feature scientific pres- process and a discussion of its value to entations of all Large Programmes the ESO scientific community. that have been completed since the May 2003 workshop. The teams of inves- For further details of the workshop, tigators in charge of these Large Pro- please refer to http://www.eso.org/sci/ grammes will be invited to present their meetings/LP2008/, where the registra- scientific results, and the impact that tion form can also be found. The registra- their project has had on its particular field. tion deadline is 15 July 2008.
50 The Messenger 132 – June 2008