Low Surface Brightness Universe
J. Schombert (UOregon)
History:
- Zwicky (1957) - first to hypothesize the existence of `hidden'
galaxies, an exponential tail to Hubble's assertion of a gaussian luminosity
function
- Arp, Sandage, de Vaucoleurs (1960's) - HSB galaxy catalogs, but always noteing the `diffuse',
low luminosity end
- Disney (1976) - places the concept of galaxy visibility in analytic form, and
determines that the `mean' central surface brightness of our galaxy catalogs is a
function of the natural sky brightness
At the beginning of the 21st century, it is now recognized that the Hubble sequence of
galaxy types covers the full range of luminosity and stellar density (surface
brightness), and that galaxy formation/galaxy evolution/star formation history
concepts need to be developed to explain all portions of the luminosity/surface
brightness plane (i.e. there is no simple linear galaxy sequence)
LSB Universe Today