United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT)
Located in Hawaii near the summit of Mauna Kea. This telescope is providing wide field of view images at infrared wavelengths.
Web Site: http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/
Led by Dr Mustapha Mouchine, the UKIRT component to the Coma Cluster Survey has been awarded 12 nights and long term status.
Galaxies in dense cluster environments are subject to various physical processes that a have deep impact on their physical properties, yet detailed studies of galaxy evolution to date have been limited to large massive galaxies - those least sensitive to environmental influence. To explore the environmental dependence of galaxy properties down to the dwarf galaxy regime, we are undertaking a deep near-infrared imaging survey with the Wide Field Camera (WFCAM, covering a 0.75 square degree tile in 4 pointings) to cover 4x4 square degrees around the centre of the Coma cluster. Coupled with other data, this will allow a detailed understanding of galaxy properties as a function of mass and environment.