Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am an observational astronomer whose research interests include the evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and the growth of galaxies over cosmic time. This research is undertaken in collaboration with Monash University PhD students, postdoctoral fellows and colleagues from around the world. We undertake this research using large surveys of the Universe including Galaxy and Mass Assembly survey (GAMA), theNOAO Deep Wide-field Survey (NDWFS), the Spitzer Deep Wide-Field Survey (SDWFS), the AGN and Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES) and planned surveys with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder and TAIPAN.
In 2014, I published an atlas of 129 galaxy spectral energy distributions, which will be used to improve measurements of galaxy distances, colours and luminosities. I am best known for my measurements of galaxy growth over cosmic time and how galaxies populate dark matter halos. A key result of these studies is that the most massive galaxies grow relatively slowly and that the relationship between stellar mass and dark matter mass evolves very little over billions of years.
My students and postdoctoral fellows are currently measuring how galaxies grow over cosmic time, how the formation of stars within galaxies depends on environment, when AGNs are found within particular galaxy populations and the dependence of star formation on dark matter halo properties. If you are interested in PhD studies in astrophysics at Monash University or postdoctoral fellowship opportunities, do not hesitate to contact me.
Research area keywords
- Galaxies
- Active Galactic Nuclei
- Astronomical Surveys
- Cosmology
- Large-Scale Structure
Network
Projects
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Australian membership of the European 4MOST Consortium
Driver, S. P., Robotham, A. S. G., Couch, W. J., Hopkins, A. M., Asplund, M., Colless, M. M., Croom, S. M., Blake, C. A., Glazebrook, K., Parkinson, D. R., Seymour, N., zucker, D., trenti, M., Martell, S. L. & Brown, M.
University of Western Australia, Australian National University , University of Sydney, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Queensland , Curtin University, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of New South Wales, Australian Astronomical Observatory
Project: Other
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Doubling the power of a unique astronomical survey facility
Colless, M. M., da Cunha, E., Mackey, D., Croom, S. M., Blake, C. A., Taylor, E., Drinkwater, M. J., Davis, T. M., Brough, S., Wright, D., Driver, S., Brown, M., Norris, R. & Hopkins, A.
16/05/18 → 31/12/18
Project: Other
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Victorian International Research Scholarship
Gracia, G., Parkash, V., Trevaskis, N. & Brown, M.
18/03/15 → 17/03/18
Project: Research
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The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP)
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/01/15 → 31/12/15
Project: Research
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Mapping the dark matter with early type galaxies
Brown, M., Davis, T., Jones, H., Mould, J., Webster, R., Colless, M., Hopkins, A., Lucey, J. & Peacock, J.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
24/03/14 → 24/03/17
Project: Research
Research Output
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Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova
Aydi, E., Sokolovsky, K. V., Chomiuk, L., Steinberg, E., Li, K. L., Vurm, I., Metzger, B. D., Strader, J., Mukai, K., Pejcha, O., Shen, K. J., Wade, G. A., Kuschnig, R., Moffat, A. F. J., Pablo, H., Pigulski, A., Popowicz, A., Weiss, W., Zwintz, K., Izzo, L. & 22 others, , 13 Apr 2020, (Accepted/In press) In : Nature Astronomy. 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
6 Citations (Scopus) -
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): Properties and evolution of red spiral galaxies
Mahajan, S., Gupta, K. K., Rana, R., Brown, M. J. I., Phillipps, S., Bland-Hawthorn, J., Bremer, M. N., Brough, S., Holwerda, B. W., Hopkins, A. M., Loveday, J., Pimbblet, K. & Wang, L., Jan 2020, In : Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 491, 1, p. 398-408 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA): Defining passive galaxy samples and searching for the UV upturn
Phillipps, S., Ali, S. S., Bremer, M. N., de Propris, R., Sansom, A. E., Cluver, M. E., Alpaslan, M., Brough, S., Brown, M. J. I., Davies, L. J. M., Driver, S. P., Grootes, M. W., Holwerda, B. W., Hopkins, A. M., James, P. A., Pimbblet, K., Robotham, A. S. G., Taylor, E. N. & Wang, L., 1 Feb 2020, In : Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 492, 2, p. 2128-2139 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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MACHO 311.37557.169: A VY Scl star
Wörpel, H., Schwope, A. D., Traulsen, I. & Brown, M. J. I., Mar 2020, In : Astronomische Nachrichten. 341, 3, p. 283-290 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Mergers trigger active galactic nuclei out to z ∼0.6
Gao, F., Wang, L., Pearson, W. J., Gordon, Y. A., Holwerda, B. W., Hopkins, A. M., Brown, M. J. I., Bland-Hawthorn, J. & Owers, M. S., 1 May 2020, In : Astronomy & Astrophysics. 637, 16 p., A94.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
- 6 Professional association or peak discipline body
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J1 – Inter-Division D-G-H-J Commission Galaxy Spectral Energy Distributions
Michael Brown (Fellow)
2018 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
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AAT Council
Michael Brown (Fellow)
2018 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
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Inter-Division D-G-H-J Commission WG Reference Library of Galaxy Spectral Energy Distributions (RELIGAS)
Michael Brown (Fellow)
2016 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
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Astronomical Society of Australia Council
Michael Brown (Fellow)
2014 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
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Fellow of the Astronomical Society of Australia
Michael Brown (Fellow)
2012 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Professional association or peak discipline body
Press / Media
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Jupiter and Saturn will come close enough to form first ‘double planet’ visible in nearly 800 years
4/12/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Victorian officials dismiss claim of 'secret modelling' showing daily Covid cases of 1,100 next week
6/08/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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The Space Tiger King and the mushrooms on Mars
2/07/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Astronomers warn 'wilderness' of southern night sky at risk from SpaceX satellites
5/06/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment