Noam Libeskind (AIP, Germany), Vasily Belokurov (IoA Cambridge)

In this session we aim to highlight the latest discoveries in the large field of small galaxies. Satellite and dwarf galaxies are among the most ancient and most prolific galaxies in our Universe, yet owing to their low surface brightness they remain mysterious. Two main drivers have advanced our understanding of dwarf galaxies: the improved observational ability to detect them on the one hand, combined with increased numerical resolution to simulate them on the other. Although observations and simulations have solved many problems, many still remain unanswered. For example, what exactly is the role satellite and dwarfs play in understanding the formation of the Local Group? This session will focus on a myriad of topics related to both observations and the modeling of dwarf and satellite galaxies and what they can tell us about the Local Group. These include their main formation and destruction mechanisms, tidal stripping, stellar streams and the stellar halo, their orbits, their spatial and kinematic distribution, their stellar populations, and other bulk internal properties such density profile and color.