Unlocking Galaxy Evolution with DESI

Project Description:

We are living in a golden age of astronomical data. Millions of galaxy spectra are now publicly available, yet most remain only superficially explored. This project places you at the forefront of a paradigm shift: moving from a world of scarce data to one of abundance, where the limiting factor is no longer telescope time but expertise. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) has recently released its first major data set (DR1), containing high-quality optical spectra for over 360,000 of the most massive galaxies. This represents an unprecedented scientific opportunity. Your goal will be to learn how to "mine" this data treasure—to extract not just redshifts, but the physical histories encoded in the light: when stars formed, how the galaxy quenched its star formation, and what chemical elements enrich its stars. This project is the perfect starting point for a student beginning in optical spectral analysis. By the end, you will have the practical skills to analyse spectra independently, positioning you to use DESI, 4MOST, and future surveys.

Research Area:

Astronomy

Project Level:

Honours

This Project Is Offered At The Following Node(s):

(NWU)