Massive Galaxies in the Early Universe

Pieter van Dokkum

A deep exposure of nearby elliptical galaxy NGC 7196 shows an asymmetric distribution of faint light around the center of the galaxy indicating that it may have been formed by a merger of two or more other galaxies. Many of these galaxies have been observed before but with no indication that they were formed by mergers. Jenica Nelan and Pieter van Dokkum have been using the SMARTS 1.0m telescope in Chile to take very long exposures of approximately 60 nearby galaxies to determine the likelihood that these galaxies have formed in this manner.