XMC II: Clouds over Yellowstone








Image credit: Oscar Jimenez Arranz

Bozeman, Montana   May 22-28, 2025 

Scientific Rationale:

As the Milky Way’s closest siblings and its largest satellite galaxies, the LMC and SMC have long been of scientific interest. Concerted survey efforts have provided a panoramic view of this interacting system, providing a window to explore galaxy formation and evolution in the lower-mass regime. Deep photometry enables their linked star formation histories to be inferred, with time-domain studies identifying variable star populations which reveal their three-dimensional structure. Spectroscopic surveys not only provide insight into the chemical abundances of stars, but also - in combination with precise astrometry from Gaia - allow both the internal and global kinematics of the system to be resolved in detail. Recent studies have also revealed the LMC substantially affects the gravitational potential of Milky Way, and therefore other satellites and streams orbiting the Galaxy.

Following the success of the XMC Workshop Milky Clouds over Manhattan - the first in this series - we present XMC II: Clouds Over Yellowstone. In this workshop, we will continue existing discussions and open new conversations on the formation and evolution of the Clouds, and their interactions both with each other, and with the Milky Way. Specific emphasis will be placed on the Clouds in upcoming surveys at all wavelengths - including spectroscopy such as from SDSS-V and 4MOST; deep photometry such as from Roman, Rubin, and Euclid; and radio observations from the SKAO - and how the community can maximally leverage these current and forthcoming facilities. We will also explore synthesis between these different observations, and how they can be used to inform and constrain theoretical models.  

This workshop will be limited to approximately 50 participants and provide ample opportunity for discussion. It will also include time allocated to keynote and contributed talks; we aim for all participants to be able to present a contributed talk as desired. 


The main topics of the conference are:


Invited Speakers: 




Venue: 

Montana State University Alumni Foundation

1501 S 11th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715

Important Dates:  

Schedule:

Lodging Information:

Blocks of rooms have been reserved under "Yellowstone Astronomy Conference" with discounted group rates:

122 West Main St., Bozeman, MT 59715

info@larkbozeman.com  406-624-3070

$169 a night, Booking Link  (block held until Friday, April 10th)

510 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715

406-404-7999

$157-169 a night

25 E Mendenhall St, Bozeman, MT 59715

406-582-4972

$279 a night (block held until Friday, March 28)

This option is now become available. The group code is XMC25

Link to the housing portal: https://www.montana.edu/cs/orientation_housing.html

“How to”: https://www.montana.edu/cs/registration.html

Things to know about the residence hall accommodations: https://www.montana.edu/cs/general_information.html

Getting to Bozeman:  

Montana State University has information on travel to Bozeman.

Airplane:

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is the closest airport and only 25 minutes from Bozeman.  BZN has regular direct flights to/from San Francisco, LA, Seattle, Atlanta, Denver, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Chicago, Newark/New York.  

Driving:

The US mountain west states are large.  Driving times are 


SOC

LOC:


Registration Fees

Abstract Submission

The abstract submission form is available here

Registration

Registration will open very soon.

Code of Conduct

We expect all conference attendees to adhere to this code of conduct.

Contact:

 For any inquiries please contact the organizers at xmcworkshops@gmail.com