Visible and Invisible Matter in Nearby Galaxies: Theory and Observations

The goal of the project is the study of the visible (stars, gas, dust) and invisible (hypothetical, dark) matter in the nearby galaxies of various morphological types. One of the main goals is the creation of a sample which includes both early and late-type galaxies. The galaxies from the sample will be studied using their photometric and spectroscopic data which come from large available catalogs and databases. Their kinematics and dynamics will be thoroughly studied and the anisotropies in the stellar motions will be examined. The decomposition of the photometric profiles will be performed in order to discover various structures (such as inner disks). The analysis of principal components will be performed to reveal the parameters which control the structure of the galaxies. We will correct the observational data (spectra, color indices) for the effects of dust. Dark matter will especially be studied in elliptical galaxies using various observational techniques and theoretical approaches. The studies of the Milky Way will be used for the comparison with other galaxies. Also, the features of the Galactic habitable zone related to the kinematics and dynamics of the Milky Way and nearby spiral galaxies will be studied. As a subproject, we will make preparatory studies, design and build a robotic telescope "Milankovic" with a mirror diameter of 1.5 meters. It will be equipped with modern instruments (camera, spectrograph), and designed for fully automatic operation.