Lara Cullinane (AI Potsdam) - Exploring the origins of SMCNOD and the Magellanic outskirts

Title: Exploring the origins of SMCNOD and the Magellanic outskirts

Abstract: Taking advantage of Gaia astrometry, recent panoramic maps of the Magellanic system have revealed a wealth of low-surface-brightness stellar substructures surrounding both Clouds; clear evidence of tidal interactions between them, as well as with the Milky Way. One such striking example is the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)’s Northern Overdensity (SMCNOD). First discovered in deep Dark Energy Survey photometry, SMCNOD is a diffuse, elongated stellar feature clearly separated from the main SMC body. In this talk, I will present investigation into the kinematic and chemical properties of SMCNOD using archival spectroscopic data from the 2dF+AAOmega instrument, and discuss possible scenarios for its origin as either tidal debris, or a captured satellite. I will additionally discuss the upcoming 1001 Magellanic Fields (1001MC) survey -- a large-scale spectroscopic survey of the
Clouds with 4MOST -- and how it will revolutionise study of the diffuse stellar outskirts of the Clouds, allowing precise constraints to be placed on their extended interaction history.