Research

I am an expert in extragalactic astronomy, specializing in the study of galactic structures, galaxy formation and evolution, and the interstellar medium. My research focuses on the morphology and dynamics of galaxies, the distribution and properties of interstellar gas and dust, and the mechanisms governing star formation and evolution within various galactic environments. Through extensive observational techniques and advanced data analysis methods, I aim to unravel the complexities of galactic ecosystems. The importance of my studies lies in their contribution to the broader understanding of the universe’s fundamental processes. By investigating the intricate details of how galaxies form, evolve, and interact, my work provides some insights into the physics of the cosmos on large scales. 

Below, I provide a brief overview of my main research areas and highlight my contributions to each field. My CV can be found here.


The Structure of Galaxies

My research focuses on understanding the formation and evolution of galaxies by examining their structural, dynamic, and kinematic properties. In our studies, we explore various aspects of galaxy structure, including the thickness, warping, truncations, breaks, and flaring of galaxy disks, as well as the structure of the bulge and bar. We also investigate the properties of the thick and thin disks.

Additionally, we study galaxy scaling relations, which are fundamental correlations between key physical properties of galaxies, such as mass, size, luminosity, and velocity. These relations are important because they provide insights into the underlying processes that govern galaxy formation and evolution, helping to reveal the connections between different galaxy types and the broader cosmic environment.

Key publications:


The Study of the Milky Way

Our research on the Milky Way involves a comprehensive study of its structure and dynamics using photometric analysis, stellar proper motions, and advanced modeling techniques. We examine the properties of the Galactic bar and utilize mid-infrared photometry to map the Galaxy's overall structure. By performing isochrone fitting of Galactic globular clusters, we refine estimates of their ages and distances, which contributes to a more precise understanding of the Milky Way’s formation. Additionally, we compare the structural parameters of the Milky Way with other spiral galaxies to contextualize its evolution within the broader framework of spiral galaxies. 

Key publications:


Dust Distribution in our Galaxy

Our research on the dust distribution in our Galaxy focuses on creating detailed 3D extinction maps and models and studying spatial variations in the extinction law across the galactic disk. By verifying reddening and extinction for different types of stars, we refine our understanding of dust-related attenuation and its effects on the retrieved fluxes of Galactic and extragalactic objects. We also explore interstellar polarization and extinction in regions like the Local Bubble and Gould Belt, providing insights into local dust properties. We also study optical galactic cirrus that represent faint, wispy clouds of interstellar dust illuminated by starlight within our Galaxy, using deep optical observations. These structures, often seen in detailed sky surveys, are crucial for understanding the properties of interstellar dust, such as its distribution, composition, reflectivity, and impact on deep extragalactic observations. This work enhances our comprehension of the interplay between dust and starlight in our Galaxy, crucial for accurate modeling of its structure and the properties of dust in the ISM. 

Key publications:

  • Moreover, I am working on a new 3D extinction map of our Galaxy, built in Gontcharov (2013) where he studied spatial variations of the extinction law in the galactic disc.
  • Verifying reddening and extinction for Gaia DR1 TGAS main sequence stars (Gontcharov & Mosenkov 2017) 
  • Verifying reddening and extinction for Gaia DR1 TGAS giants (Gontcharov & Mosenkov 2018) 
  • Interstellar polarization and extinction in the Local Bubble and the Gould Belt (Gontcharov & Mosenkov 2019) 
  • Gaia DR2 giants in the Galactic dust - II. Application of the reddening maps and models (Gontcharov & Mosenkov 2021) 
  • Gaia DR2 giants in the Galactic dust - I. Reddening across the whole dust layer and some properties of the giant clump (Gontcharov & Mosenkov 2021)
  • Interstellar Extinction in Galactic Cirri in SDSS Stripe 82 (Gontcharov et al. 2022) 
  • Prospects for future studies using deep imaging: analysis of individual Galactic cirrus filaments (Smirnov et al. 2023) 


Dust Distribution in External Galaxies

My study of dust distribution in galaxies centers on understanding how dust affects the observed properties of galaxies, particularly those viewed edge-on. Using radiative transfer modeling, I investigate both the attenuation of starlight by dust in optical wavelengths and the emission of dust in the far-infrared. Through projects like the HEROES series, I have explored the dust energy balance in edge-on spirals, revealing inconsistencies in dust modeling, where more dust is seen in emission than in attenuation. My work also includes analyzing dust emission profiles in DustPedia galaxies and examining the global structure of dust distribution in edge-on galaxies. By addressing challenges such as dust attenuation in photometric decomposition, my research provides solutions that improve our understanding of how dust influences galaxy observations and allow us to accurately determine the structural parameters of both the dust and stellar components.

Key publications:

  • HERschel Observations of Edge-on Spirals (HEROES). III. Dust energy balance study of IC 2531 (Mosenkov et al. 2016) 
  • HERschel Observations of Edge-on Spirals (HEROES). IV. Dust energy balance problem (Mosenkov et al. 2018) 
  • Dust emission profiles of DustPedia galaxies (Mosenkov et al. 2019) 
  • The distribution of dust in edge-on galaxies: I. The global structure (Mosenkov et al. 2022) 
  • The problem of dust attenuation in photometric decomposition of edge-on galaxies and possible solutions (Savchenko et al. 2023)


Spiral Structure in Galaxies

My study of spiral structure in galaxies involves examining the morphology and evolution of spiral arms across multiple wavelengths. By analyzing the general characteristics of spiral arms in optical and deep optical observations, I aim to understand how these structures are related to the overall dynamics and evolution of galaxies (including galaxy interactions). My research includes detailed investigations into the parameters of spiral patterns, such as arm width and pitch angles, and explores their possible evolution over time. 

Key publications:


The Low-Surface Brightness Universe

My research on the low-surface-brightness universe focuses on studying faint and diffuse structures in galaxies, such as stellar halos and envelopes, faint structural and tidal features, which are often overlooked in standard observations. We also quantify the morphology of galaxies and diffuse light in compact galaxy groups and galaxy clusters to better understand how galaxies interact and evolve in tight spatial environments and massive dark matter halos.

Key publications:

The haloes and environments of nearby galaxies (HERON) - I. Imaging, sample characteristics, and envelope diameters (Rich et al. 2019) 

The haloes and environments of nearby galaxies (HERON) - II. The outer structure of edge-on galaxies (Mosenkov et al. 2020) 

Quantified diffuse light in compact groups of galaxies (Poliakov et al. 2021) 

The haloes and environments of nearby galaxies (HERON) - III. A 45-kpc spiral structure in the GLSB galaxy UGC 4599 (Mosenkov et al. 2023) 

Tidal features and disc thicknesses of edge-on galaxies in the SDSS Stripe 82 (Skryabina et al. 2024) 


Rare Galaxy Types (Galaxies with Polar Structures)

My research on polar-ring galaxies focuses on their unique structure, where a ring of gas, dust, and stars orbits perpendicular to the main galaxy body. These galaxies provide a natural laboratory for studying matter accretion and the shape of dark matter halos, offering insights into dark matter distribution and galaxy dynamics. Recent findings indicate that polar-ring galaxies are more common than previously believed, allowing us to explore these objects further using neural networks developed with my students to identify thousands of such galaxies in deep sky surveys. 

Key publications:


Cataloging Extragalactic Objects

My work on cataloging galaxies involves creating comprehensive datasets of edge-on disk galaxies and other types, which are crucial for studying their structural properties and cosmic dust content. I contributed to the development of catalogs like the Catalog of Edge-on Disk Galaxies from SDSS (EGIS), which details the structural parameters of edge-on stellar disks, and the EGIPS catalog from the Pan-STARRS survey, enhancing our understanding of galaxy morphology when viewed edge-on. Additionally, I have been involved in projects like DustPedia, which provides an in-depth study of cosmic dust in the local universe, and the TNG50-SKIRT Atlas, which combines simulation and observational data to offer insights into galaxy structure and dust distribution. 

Key publications:

  • The Catalog of Edge-on Disk Galaxies from SDSS. I. The Catalog and the Structural Parameters of Stellar Disks (Bizyaev et al. 2014) 
  • DustPedia: A Definitive Study of Cosmic Dust in the Local Universe (Davies et al. 2017)
  • The edge-on Galaxies in the Pan-STARRS survey (EGIPS) (Makarov et al. 2022) 
  • The TNG50-SKIRT Atlas: Post-processing methodology and first data release (Baes et al. 2024) 


Developing New Astronomical Software

My work on software development for astronomy focuses on creating and enhancing Python tools that are essential for data reduction and analysis in the field. I am currently updating the IMAN Python package, a widely used tool for processing large datasets of galaxies, which enables researchers in extragalactic astronomy to conduct more efficient and precise analyses. This software development effort aims to empower the astronomical community by improving data handling capabilities, ultimately supporting more accurate and impactful scientific discoveries. My goal is to provide powerful, user-friendly tools that streamline data analysis and contribute to advancing our understanding of the Universe.