Discipline Working Group on UV Astronomy

The global scientific themes presented below – namely the study of the fundamental properties of stars across the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and the evolution of galaxies – are key components of the Long Range Plan (Sections 2.1 and 2.4) for Canadian astronomy (“The Origins of Structure in the Universe”) prepared by the Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA). [...] Massive stars have thus been important actors in galactic and cosmic evolution since the Big Bang; analysis of their properties has implications in areas as diverse as the kinematics of the ISM, the origin of gamma-ray bursts, the chemical evolution of galaxies and the reionization of the early Universe. [...] For example, observations of the chromospheric spectrum (and stellar activity) in cool stars are straightforward in the UV because the key diagnostics dominate the ultraviolet spectrum (which is not the case in the optical spectrum). [...] Her mandate was to coordinate the funding to the different science and technical team members to ensure the success of the science calibration and the science planning of the mission. [...] moffat@astro.umontreal.ca (514) 343 6682 A.2 - New members : One of the first tasks of the DWG was to enlarge its membership, in order to reflect better both Canadian scientific interests in the UV region of the spectrum and the geographical diversity of the Canadian astronomical community.