Program: GN-2024A-Q-406

We request Gemini/GMOS-N time-series imaging of five new ultra-faint dwarf galaxies recently discovered. The faintest galaxies probe cosmology and galaxy formation models on extremely small-scales, thus their discovery and characterization is among the most important goals in near-field cosmology. We will search for and confirm RR Lyrae variables (RRLs), core-helium burning low mass stars with ages > 10 Gyr. RRLs obey well calibrated period-luminosity relations and therefore are excellent standard candles. The detection of RRLs in our target galaxies will help us to determine the distance to the system which will allow us to obtain accurate physical sizes and total absolute magnitudes. Furthermore, through the pulsation properties exhibited by RRLs clues about the contribution of UFDs in the formation of the halo of the Milky Way can be unveiled and the mysteries concerning the hierarchic architecture of Galaxy Formation and Evolution theories can be disentangled, thereby improving our understanding of the faintest galaxies.