Galactic Nuclei: How Old, How Massive and How Active

Australia's Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph (NIFS) will be used on the Gemini North 8 m telescope in Hawaii to study the mass, age, and activity of the nuclei of nearby galaxies at high spatial resolution. Many nearby galaxies contain massive nuclear black holes. Understanding processes occurring near these black holes will shed light on how galaxies evolve and how massive black holes continue to interact with their surroundings. This is the NIFS core science program. It will use guaranteed telescope time granted to the instrument team. NIFS is an innovative new near-infrared spectrograph designed and constructed in Australia.