Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: A Low Surface Brightness Science Case

Mireia Montes; Ignacio Trujillo; David Martínez Delgado; Borja Anguiano; Magda Arnaboldi; Michael A. Beasley; Fernando Buitrago; Michele Cantiello; Andrés del Pino; Amandine Doliva-Dolinsky; Helena Domínguez-Sánchez; Mauro D'Onofrio; Pierre-Alain Duc; Katja Fahrion; Anna Ferré-Mateu; Carme Gallart; Nina Hatch; Enrica Iodice; Yolanda Jiménez-Teja; Francine Marleau; Chris Mihos; Nicola Napolitano; Agnieszka Pollo; Javier Román; Joanna Sakowska; Jorge Sánchez Almeida; Patricia Sánchez-Blázquez; Marilena Spavone; Guillaume Thomas; Eva Villaver

arXiv · 2512.14784

Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: A Low Surface Brightness Science Case

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Abstract

The Extragalactic Low Surface Brightness (LSB, $μ_V\gtrsim 27$ mag/arcsec$^2$) 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.

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Mireia Montes, Ignacio Trujillo, David Martínez Delgado, Borja Anguiano, Magda Arnaboldi, Michael A. Beasley, Fernando Buitrago, Michele Cantiello, Andrés del Pino, Amandine Doliva-Dolinsky, Helena Domínguez-Sánchez, Mauro D'Onofrio, Pierre-Alain Duc, Katja Fahrion, Anna Ferré-Mateu, Carme Gallart, Nina Hatch, Enrica Iodice, Yolanda Jiménez-Teja, Francine Marleau, Chris Mihos, Nicola Napolitano, Agnieszka Pollo, Javier Román, Joanna Sakowska, Jorge Sánchez Almeida, Patricia Sánchez-Blázquez, Marilena Spavone, Guillaume Thomas, Eva Villaver. 2025-12-16. Why the Northern Hemisphere Needs a 30-40 m Telescope and the Science at Stake: A Low Surface Brightness Science Case. https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.14784

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