[Previous] | [Session 96] | [Next]
D.J. Pisano, E.M. Wilcots (U. Wisconsin - Madison)
I present the results of a comprehensive HI survey of nearby, quiescent, non-peculiar, extremely isolated galaxies to assess the current state of galaxy assembly in the local universe. Hiererarchical galaxy formation models predict that galaxy assembly should continue into the present day as small clumps of gas fall onto galaxies. We find low-mass HI companions around ~25% of the galaxies surveyed, which could be the debris associated with galaxy assembly. In addition, we find 10% of galaxies with lopsided HI distributions, which could indicate a recent minor accretion event. We compare our detection rates with models of galaxy formation to determine the current state of galaxy assembly.