Proposed Hubble Space Telescope Legacy Program Would Map Star Cluster Orbits in Andromeda and Triangulum Galaxies
Astronomers propose a new Hubble Space Telescope program in the 2030s to measure the motions and orbits of star clusters in the Andromeda (M31) and Triangulum (M33) galaxies by combining new observations with decades of archival data. The proposal leverages Hubble's unique long-term observational baseline and existing surveys (PHAT and PHATTER) that have already resolved millions of stars and thousands of clusters in these nearby galaxies. Such measurements would reveal how these galaxies formed and evolved, constrain their mass distributions, and test calibration methods needed for future space telescopes.
Researchers have submitted a proposal to use the Hubble Space Telescope for a coordinated astrometric survey of star clusters in the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies during the 2030s. The program would obtain new imaging data using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3, then combine these observations with archival data spanning from the mid-1990s to the present—creating a temporal baseline of roughly 40 years. This extended baseline would enable precise measurements of how star clusters move across the sky (transverse velocities), allowing astronomers to map their orbits for the first time outside the Milky Way. The resulting data would constrain fundamental questions about galaxy evolution, including disk heating mechanisms, cluster disruption rates, accretion histories, and the gravitational interaction between M31 and M33. The program would also serve as a testbed for calibration techniques and data processing pipelines needed for the next generation of space-based observatories.
What's missing
The proposal does not specify the estimated cost, required observing time allocation, or timeline for data release. Additionally, the paper does not discuss potential competition for Hubble time or how this program would be prioritized against other proposed legacy projects.
What different sources said
- arXiv astro-phCenter
From Images to Orbits: A Hubble 2030s Astrometric Legacy for the M31-M33 Star Cluster Systems
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