The Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey

PAndAS

 

What is PAndAS?


            PAndAS is an astronomical survey using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope designed to explore, in unprecedented detail, the structure and content of the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way: the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and its close neighbour, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). Hidden within the vast volumes explored by PAndAS lie remnants of - and therefore clues to - the formation of these galaxies. 


            While there might be 400 billion or so galaxies in the Universe, there are only 2 galaxies - Andromeda and Triangulum - whose history can be revealed to us in this level of detail through the study of their "galaxy archaeology".


         Please follow the links at the top of the page for more information and to see the latest results from PAndAS

Upper left: The Triangulum galaxy (M33)

Upper middle: The Andromeda galaxy (M31), with its two bright satellites, M32 and NGC205

Right (background): The possible orbit of the Triangulum galaxy around Andromeda