IAU Symposium 216

Maps of the Cosmos

Sydney, July 14-17, 2003

to be held in conjunction with the

XXVth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union
Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia

Symposium Outline

Maps of the distribution of galaxies and of temperature fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) are fundamental in determining the structure, geometry and evolution of the Universe. The non-uniform distribution of galaxies in the local Universe has been apparent since the early surveys of Shapley, de Vaucouleurs and collaborators. Recent redshift and imaging surveys of huge numbers of galaxies have vastly improved our knowledge of large-scale structure and the evolution of galaxies. 2dF and SLOAN are recent examples of successful large redshift surveys. Together with dramatic new images of fluctuations in the CMB at millimetre wavelengths, and supernova-based distances to galaxies, the standard paradigm has shifted within the last decade to one in which the Universe appears dominated by "dark energy" rather than "dark matter".

Many uncertainties remain in our picture of the Universe and its evolution. These include the form of the dark energy and the dark matter, the distribution of baryons, the formation of clusters, the formation of galaxies, the history of star-formation, and the role of star-formation in regulating metallicity, infall and the ionizing background radiation field. Many of these questions are being addressed by theoretical means including n-body and hydrodynamic simulations. Many observational projects are also underway. For example, maps of clusters of galaxies, maps of the distribution of Lyman-alpha absorbers, and maps of neutral hydrogen in the nearby and distant Universe will all help in understanding the distribution of the baryonic content of the Universe across the hot, warm and cool phases. High-redshift galaxy and QSO surveys are also underway to probe the structure of the Universe at early epochs. Deep observations of the CMB at arcmin resolution will probe the Universe at even earlier times.

This symposium, which will be held alongside the 2003 IAU General Assembly in Sydney, will be timely in that this is a fast moving field where it is sometimes difficult for many researchers to keep up with the enormous advances being made by colleagues working in related fields. Results from the redshift and imaging surveys (e.g. 2dF, 2QZ, 6dF, SLOAN, 2MASS), X-ray results on galaxy and cluster evolution from XMM and Chandra, and results from the new generation of radio surveys (e.g. HIPASS and SUMSS) will all be peaking around 2003. We also expect preliminary results from deep redshift surveys from the largest telescopes (including VLT and Keck), and possibly the next generation of far-infrared surveys (SIRTF, ASTRO-F) to be available by the time of the symposium, as well as early results from the MAP CMB mission. A symposium which is able to draw together theoreticians and observers and researchers from several disciplines will be extremely valuable at this time.

Invited Speakers

• Kurt Adelberger - Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA
• Amy Barger - University of Wisconsin, USA
• Bob Becker - University of California/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA
• Charles Bennett - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA
• John Carlstrom - University of Chicago, USA
• Scott Croom - Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia
• Romeel Davé - University of Arizona, USA
• Carlos Frenk - University of Durham, UK
• Guinevere Kauffmann - Max-Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Germany
• Henk Hoekstra - CITA, University of Toronto, Canada
• John Huchra - Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA
• Olivier Le Fevre - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France
• Carol Lonsdale - IPAC/JPL, Caltech, USA
• Richard Mushotzky - NASA Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, USA
• Lyman Page - Princeton University, USA
• John Peacock - ROE, UK
• Marguerite Pierre - CEA Saclay, France
• Bianca Poggianti - Padova Observatory, Italy
• Kenneth Sembach - Space Telescope Science Institute, USA
• Tom Shanks - University of Durham, UK
• Ian Smail - University of Durham, UK
• Matthias Steinmetz - Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam, Germany
• Rashid Sunyaev - Max-Planck Institut für Astrophysik, Germany; Space Research Institute, Russia
• Yasushi Suto - University of Tokyo, Japan
• Alex Szalay - The Johns Hopkins University, USA
• Virginia Trimble - University of Maryland and University of California (Irvine), USA
• Brent Tully - University of Hawaii, USA

Speaker Program      (or PDF version here)

Poster Program      (or PDF version here)

Final Announcement

Arrival, Registration, Internet, Wireless, Poster information

Publication information. Unfortunately, due to the high number of poster papers, only papers from speakers will be accepted for the proceedings. Deadline Oct 31.

An all-sky image of the microwave sky from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.

Scientific Organizing Committee:

Danielle Alloin (Chile/ESO)
Russell Cannon (Australia)
Matthew Colless (Australia)
John Huchra (USA)
Guinevere Kauffmann (Germany)
Yannick Mellier (France)
John Peacock (UK, co-chair)
David Spergel (USA)
Lister Staveley-Smith (Australia, co-chair)
Alex Szalay (USA)
Paolo Vettolani (Italy)
Ken'ichi Wakamatsu (Japan)
Robert Williams (IAU, ex-officio)

Proceedings Editors:

Matthew Colless
Lister Staveley-Smith

Symposium Poster     Poster download and credits.

General Assembly Pages

IAU2003 General Assembly Home Page

Scientific Programe
Programme Schedule
Social Functions
Sydney Day Tours
Pre/Post Assembly Extended Tours
Associated Public Events

Travel Grant Application Form
Abstract Submission Forms
Registration Forms

Information and Important Dates

All participants in the Symposium must register for the IAU General Assembly. Abstract submission should also be made via the General Assembly web pages. Travel funds are limited, and, following IAU regulations, priority will be given to qualified scientists for whom few or no other means of support are available. More information here.