Galactic Archaeology: A Radial Velocity Experiment to Unveil the History of the Milky Way

The ambitious RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) will measure velocities and chemical properties of a million stars in the period 2006-2011, two orders of magnitude more than the number measured throughout history. RAVE will provide unique chemical and kinematical fingerprints of our Galaxy's formation and evolution. A primary goal of RAVE is to study substructure in the halo and disk of the Galaxy, left over from star formation events and small galaxies that were absorbed long ago. The RAVE sample is also ideal for studying the relation between age, kinematics and metallicity of galactic stars: this relation is the observational basis of studies of how the Milky Way has evolved since its formation.