Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999iaus..192..170s&link_type=abstract
The stellar content of Local Group galaxies, Proceedings of the 192nd symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph), at a Galactocentric distance of 133 kpc, is one of the most distant of the known eight gas-poor dwarf galaxies that orbit the Galaxy. We have begun a series of observations designed to determine the histories of star formation and chemical enrichment in Fornax. We report on our wide-field photometric survey of the bright stars in the Fornax dSph. This survey includes RR Lyrae star candidates, red giant stars, and asymptotic giant branch stars that trace the old and intermediate-aged stellar populations, and the blue main-sequence stars that define a young stellar population that has an age of a few 108 yrs (which is remarkably young for a galaxy whose neutral hydrogen content is < 104 Modot). We find that the spatial distribution of this young generation of stars is much more flattened than, and its major axis is offset by ˜30 degrees from, the galaxy as a whole. The spread in color of the red giant branch is very wide, which reflects spread in metallicity of at least 1.5 dex. We also report on our deeper photometric survey from which we will analyze the distribution of stars along the main-sequence turnoff to determine this dSph's star-formation history.
Hesser James Edward
Smecker-Hane Tammy Ann
Stetson Peter B.
No associations
LandOfFree
New Photometric Surveys of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with New Photometric Surveys of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and New Photometric Surveys of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1610565