A group of young astronomers from Prendergast Ladywell School, guided by Fellow Amara M. from UCL, embarked on a journey to explore these stellar nurseries and to understand how different galaxies fuel star formation.

Using data collected from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the students delved into the heart of nearby galaxies, mapping their star-forming regions, and discovered that these regions are primarily concentrated in the spiral arms of galaxies. By studying the molecular gas content of these galaxies, the students found a strong correlation between the abundance of this gas and the rate of star formation. Galaxies rich in molecular gas, the raw material for stars, were shown to be more prolific in their stellar production. Moreover, they observed a trend where more massive galaxies tend to have higher rates of star formation, suggesting that a greater reservoir of resources fuel a more intense process.

To gain a deeper understanding of the star formation activity within these galaxies, the team analysed their luminosity functions, which reveal the distribution and brightness of star-forming regions. They discovered that one galaxy in particular, NGC3627, exhibited an exceptionally high rate of star formation, likely due to its abundant molecular gas content.

In conclusion, these students have made significant strides in unraveling the mysteries of star formation in nearby galaxies. Their findings shed light on the intricate interplay between galaxy properties, molecular gas content, and stellar birth, providing valuable insights into the evolution of these cosmic structures!