Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: A Low Surface Brightness Science Case
Abstract
The Extragalactic Low Surface Brightness (LSB, mag/arcsec) Universe represents a crucial, yet largely unseen, frontier in modern astrophysics. This faint realm holds the keys to completing our understanding of galaxy evolution, hierarchical assembly, and even the fundamental nature of dark matter. Our current theoretical models are inherently incomplete, largely mirroring the properties of the brightest, most easily observed objects. To overcome this critical bias and unlock the secrets of this realm, a transformative leap in observational capability is required. A 30 to 40m class telescope, leveraging unprecedented sensitivity and spatial resolution, especially with adaptive optics, is the essential tool to fundamentally probe these faint, low-density stellar regimes. This white paper details the transformative LSB science that such a facility, strategically positioned in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) to access crucial nearby structures and rich environments, can achieve.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2512.14784,
title = {Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: A Low Surface Brightness Science Case},
author = {Mireia Montes and Ignacio Trujillo and David Martínez Delgado and Borja Anguiano and Magda Arnaboldi and Michael A. Beasley and Fernando Buitrago and Michele Cantiello and Andrés del Pino and Amandine Doliva-Dolinsky and Helena Domínguez-Sánchez and Mauro D'Onofrio and Pierre-Alain Duc and Katja Fahrion and Anna Ferré-Mateu and Carme Gallart and Nina Hatch and Enrica Iodice and Yolanda Jiménez-Teja and Francine Marleau and Chris Mihos and Nicola Napolitano and Agnieszka Pollo and Javier Román and Joanna Sakowska and Jorge Sánchez Almeida and Patricia Sánchez-Blázquez and Marilena Spavone and Guillaume Thomas and Eva Villaver},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.14784},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
White Paper submitted to "ESO Expanding Horizons: Transforming Astronomy in the 2040s"