emission line. This
feature has
now carried us to a galaxy redshift in excess of z = 6.57!
To be published in "Astrophysics Update", Mason,
J. (Ed.) Springer Praxis Books in Astrophysics and Astronomy, Praxis 2004.
For a PDF version of the article, click
here.
For a Postscript version of the article, click
here.
Abstract: I review selected current observations of distant
galaxies and our
interpretation of the fragile (and occasionally contradictory)
data. Galaxies at the "contemporary limit" of technology and
redshift (z ~ 6) are difficult to locate in the first
place. Moreover, the large redshift may push some critical confirming
and/or interpretative analysis toward unfamiliar IR wavelengths. I
will concentrate on observational means and results to explore the
early evolution of galaxies. We also note the biases that intrude on
plans for the interpretative aspects of distant galaxy photometry and
spectroscopy. We discuss the best methods of selection for those very
distant systems; these methods include utilizing strong sub-mm
emission from dust, photometry indicating a UV "spectral break," and
finally the signal of a strong
Ly emission line. This
feature has
now carried us to a galaxy redshift in excess of z = 6.57!
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