scholarly journals The Dynamical Mass of the Young Cluster W3 in NGC 7252: Heavy-Weight Globular Cluster or Ultra-Compact Dwarf Galaxy?

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 169-170
Author(s):  
Claudia Maraston ◽  
N. Bastian ◽  
R. P. Saglia ◽  
Markus Kissler-Patig ◽  
François Schweizer ◽  
...  

AbstractWe have measured the dynamical mass of the highly luminous star cluster W3 in the young merger remnant galaxy NGC 7252. The value is Mdyn = (8 ± 2) × 107M⊙, and represents the highest dynamically-confirmed mass for an extra-galactic star cluster so far. The dynamical mass is in excellent agreement with the luminous mass (Maraston et al. 2001). This results from the use of stellar population models that include correctly the brightest AGB stellar phase, dominant in young stellar populations. To classify W3, we employ the fundamental plane of stellar systems (Bender, Burstein & Faber 1992), for the first time in these kinds of studies. We find that W3 lies far from typical Milky Way globular clusters, but it is also far from the heavyweights ωCen in the Milky Way and G1 in M31, because it is too extended for its mass, and from dwarf elliptical galaxies because it is much more compact for its mass. Instead W3 lies close to the ultra-compact Fornax objects (Drinkwater et al. 2003) and to the compact elliptical M32, possibly shedding light on the still mysterious nature of these objects. A previously deserted region of the fundamental plane starts to be populated.

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S246) ◽  
pp. 429-430
Author(s):  
Bryan W. Miller ◽  
Jennifer Lotz ◽  
Michael Hilker ◽  
Markus Kissler-Patig ◽  
Thomas Puzia

AbstractWe present a Gemini/GMOS program to measure spectroscopic metallicities and ages of globular clusters (GCs) and nuclei in dwarf elliptical galaxies in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters. Preliminary results indicate that the globular clusters are old and metal-poor, very similar to the GCs in the Milky Way halo. The nuclei tend to be more metal-rich than the globular clusters but more metal-poor and older, on average, than the stars in the bodies of the galaxies. The [α/Fe] ratio appears to be solar for the GCs, nuclei, and dEs, but the uncertainties do not exclude some globular clusters from being enhanced in alpha elements.


1975 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 53-55
Author(s):  
D. W. Keenan ◽  
K. A. Innanen

Many self-gravitating stellar systems are satellites of larger galaxies and must therefore be subjected to the tidal field of the parent system. Examples are the globular clusters and dwarf elliptical galaxies, which are satellites of our Galaxy. Most previous studies of tidal effects have been highly simplified, e.g. clusters in circular planar galactic orbits (Bok, 1934), or have assumed that the tidal field acts to limit the size of a star cluster without any effects on its internal structure or stability (Spitzer and Shapiro, 1972; Spitzer and Thuan, 1972).


2019 ◽  
Vol 625 ◽  
pp. A50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Fahrion ◽  
Iskren Georgiev ◽  
Michael Hilker ◽  
Mariya Lyubenova ◽  
Glenn van de Ven ◽  
...  

Context. Photometric surveys of galaxy clusters have revealed a large number of ultra compact dwarfs (UCDs) around predominantly massive elliptical galaxies. Their origin is still debated as some UCDs are considered to be the remnant nuclei of stripped dwarf galaxies while others seem to mark the high-mass end of the star cluster population. Aims. We aim to characterize the properties of a UCD found at very close projected distance (rwproj = 1.1 kpc) from the centre of the low-mass (M ∼ 1010 M⊙) early-type galaxy FCC 47. This is a serendipitous discovery from MUSE adaptive optics science verification data. We explore the potential origin of this UCD as either a massive cluster or the remnant nucleus of a dissolved galaxy. Methods. We used archival Hubble Space Telescope data to study the photometric and structural properties of FCC 47-UCD1. In the MUSE data, the UCD is unresolved, but we used its spectrum to determine the radial velocity and metallicity. Results. The surface brightness of FCC 47-UCD1 is best described by a single King profile with low concentration C = Rt/Rc ∼ 10 and large effective radius (reff = 24 pc). Its integrated magnitude and blue colour (Mg = −10.55 mag, (g − z) = 1.46 mag) combined with a metallicity of [M/H] = −1.12 ± 0.10 dex and an age > 8 Gyr obtained from the full fitting of the MUSE spectrum suggests a stellar population mass of M* = 4.87 × 106 M⊙. The low S/N of the MUSE spectrum prevents detailed stellar population analysis. Due to the limited spectral resolution of MUSE, we can only give an upper limit on the velocity dispersion (σ <  17 km s−1), and consequently on its dynamical mass (Mdyn <  1.3 × 107 M⊙). Conclusions. The origin of the UCD cannot be constrained with certainty. The low metallicity, old age, and magnitude are consistent with a star cluster origin, whereas the extended size is consistent with an origin as the stripped nucleus of a dwarf galaxy with a initial stellar mass of a few 108 M⊙.


2019 ◽  
Vol 491 (4) ◽  
pp. 5693-5701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adebusola B Alabi ◽  
Duncan A Forbes ◽  
Aaron J Romanowsky ◽  
Jean P Brodie

ABSTRACT We study the globular clusters (GCs) in the spiral galaxy NGC 5907 well-known for its spectacular stellar stream – to better understand its origin. Using wide-field Subaru/Suprime-Cam gri images and deep Keck/DEIMOS multi-object spectroscopy, we identify and obtain the kinematics of several GCs superimposed on the stellar stream and the galaxy disc. We estimate the total number of GCs in NGC 5907 to be 154 ± 44, with a specific frequency of 0.73 ± 0.21. Our analysis also reveals a significant, new population of young star cluster candidates found mostly along the outskirts of the stellar disc. Using the properties of the stream GCs, we estimate that the disrupted galaxy has a stellar mass similar to the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy accreted by the Milky Way, i.e. $\sim 10^8~\rm M_\odot$.


2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (2) ◽  
pp. 2514-2524
Author(s):  
Joel Pfeffer ◽  
Carmela Lardo ◽  
Nate Bastian ◽  
Sara Saracino ◽  
Sebastian Kamann

ABSTRACT A number of the massive clusters in the halo, bulge, and disc of the Galaxy are not genuine globular clusters (GCs) but instead are different beasts altogether. They are the remnant nuclear star clusters (NSCs) of ancient galaxies since accreted by the Milky Way. While some clusters are readily identifiable as NSCs and can be readily traced back to their host galaxy (e.g. M54 and the Sagittarius Dwarf galaxy), others have proven more elusive. Here, we combine a number of independent constraints, focusing on their internal abundances and overall kinematics, to find NSCs accreted by the Galaxy and trace them to their accretion event. We find that the true NSCs accreted by the Galaxy are: M54 from the Sagittarius Dwarf, ω Centari from Gaia-Enceladus/Sausage, NGC 6273 from Kraken, and (potentially) NGC 6934 from the Helmi Streams. These NSCs are prime candidates for searches of intermediate-mass black holes (BHs) within star clusters, given the common occurrence of galaxies hosting both NSCs and central massive BHs. No NSC appears to be associated with Sequoia or other minor accretion events. Other claimed NSCs are shown not to be such. We also discuss the peculiar case of Terzan 5, which may represent a unique case of a cluster–cluster merger.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (S321) ◽  
pp. 10-12
Author(s):  
Charli M. Sakari

AbstractObservations of stellar streams in M31’s outer halo suggest that M31 is actively accreting several dwarf galaxies and their globular clusters (GCs). Detailed abundances can chemically link clusters to their birth environments, establishing whether or not a GC has been accreted from a satellite dwarf galaxy. This talk presents the detailed chemical abundances of seven M31 outer halo GCs (with projected distances from M31 greater than 30 kpc), as derived from high-resolution integrated-light spectra taken with the Hobby Eberly Telescope. Five of these clusters were recently discovered in the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS)—this talk presents the first determinations of integrated Fe, Na, Mg, Ca, Ti, Ni, Ba, and Eu abundances for these clusters. Four of the target clusters (PA06, PA53, PA54, and PA56) are metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -1.5), α-enhanced (though they are possibly less alpha-enhanced than Milky Way stars at the 1 sigma level), and show signs of star-to-star Na and Mg variations. The other three GCs (H10, H23, and PA17) are more metal-rich, with metallicities ranging from [Fe/H] = -1.4 to -0.9. While H23 is chemically similar to Milky Way field stars, Milky Way GCs, and other M31 clusters, H10 and PA17 have moderately-low [Ca/Fe], compared to Milky Way field stars and clusters. Additionally, PA17’s high [Mg/Ca] and [Ba/Eu] ratios are distinct from Milky Way stars, and are in better agreement with the stars and clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). None of the clusters studied here can be conclusively linked to any of the identified streams from PAndAS; however, based on their locations, kinematics, metallicities, and detailed abundances, the most metal-rich PAndAS clusters H23 and PA17 may be associated with the progenitor of the Giant Stellar Stream, H10 may be associated with the SW Cloud, and PA53 and PA56 may be associated with the Eastern Cloud.


2020 ◽  
Vol 492 (3) ◽  
pp. 3859-3871 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Dalgleish ◽  
S Kamann ◽  
C Usher ◽  
H Baumgardt ◽  
N Bastian ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Observed mass-to-light ratios (M/L) of metal-rich globular clusters (GCs) disagree with theoretical predictions. This discrepancy is of fundamental importance since stellar population models provide the stellar masses that underpin most of extragalactic astronomy, near and far. We have derived radial velocities for 1622 stars located in the centres of 59 Milky Way GCs – 12 of which have no previous kinematic information – using integral-field unit data from the WAGGS project. Using N-body models, we determine dynamical masses and M/LV for the studied clusters. Our sample includes NGC 6528 and NGC 6553, which extend the metallicity range of GCs with measured M/L up to [Fe/H] ∼ −0.1 dex. We find that metal-rich clusters have M/LV more than two times lower than what is predicted by simple stellar population models. This confirms that the discrepant M/L–[Fe/H] relation remains a serious concern. We explore how our findings relate to previous observations, and the potential causes for the divergence, which we conclude is most likely due to dynamical effects.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (S351) ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
M. Alfaro-Cuello ◽  
N. Kacharov ◽  
N. Neumayer ◽  
A. Mastrobuono-Battisti ◽  
N. Lützgendorf ◽  
...  

AbstractNuclear star clusters hosted by dwarf galaxies exhibit similar characteristics to high-mass, metal complex globular clusters. This type of globular clusters could, therefore, be former nuclei from accreted galaxies. M54 resides in the photometric center of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, at a distance where resolving stars is possible. M54 offers the opportunity to study a nucleus before the stripping of their host by the tidal field effects of the Milky Way. We use a MUSE data set to perform a detailed analysis of over 6600 stars. We characterize the stars by metallicity, age, and kinematics, identifying the presence of three stellar populations: a young metal-rich (YMR), an intermediate-age metal-rich (IMR), and an old metal-poor (OMP). The evidence suggests that the OMP population is the result of accretion of globular clusters in the center of the host, while the YMR population was born in-situ in the center of the OMP population.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (S316) ◽  
pp. 351-352
Author(s):  
C. Navarrete ◽  
M. Catelan ◽  
R. Contreras Ramos ◽  
F. Gran ◽  
J. Alonso-García ◽  
...  

Abstractω Centauri is by far the most massive globular star cluster in the Milky Way, and possibly the remnant of a dwarf galaxy. As such, it contains a large number of variable stars of different classes. Here we report on an extensive, wide-field time-series study of ω Cen in the J and KS bands, which has allowed us to study the near-IR period-luminosity relations for different variability classes, including the first such relations for the SX Phoenicis stars.


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