Galaxy clustering at z ∼ 3

Galaxies at very high redshift (z ∼ 3 or greater) are now accessible to wholesale observation, making possible for the first time a robust statistical assessment of their spatial distribution at look–back times approaching ca. 90% of the age of the universe. This paper summarizes recent progress in understanding the nature of these early galaxies, concentrating in particular on the clustering properties. Direct comparison of the data to predictions and physical insights provided by galaxy and structure formation models is particularly straightforward at these early epochs, and results in critical tests of the ‘biased’ hierarchical galaxy formation paradigm.