Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005hia....13..167p&link_type=abstract
Highlights of Astronomy, Vol. 13, as presented at the XXVth General Assembly of the IAU - 2003 [Sydney, Australia, 13 - 26 July
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
As the nearest giant elliptical galaxy NGC 5128 (Centaurus A) is an excellent place to use globular clusters (GCs) and host galaxy field stars to study galaxy evolution. We have performed a detailed investigation of this galaxy comparing field star kinematics with the metallicities ages and kinematics of GCs. We used our sample of 780 planetary nebulae (PNe) to trace the kinematics of the field star population out to distances of 100/50 kpc along the major/minor axes. Our survey for GCs out to 50/30 kpc produced new velocities for 138 GCs for a confirmed total of 215 one of the largest spectroscopic samples to date. Using spectra of the brightest GCs to determine ages we find that the metal-rich clusters have intermediate ages of approximately 4 Gyr and that their kinematics are similar to those of the PNe. The metal-poor clusters have old ages similar to the Galactic GCs and show a weaker kinematic correlation with the field stars. We will discuss the formation of NGC 5128 in light of these and other results (e.g. dynamical mass estimates GC spatial distribution galaxy surface photometry etc.) particularly in the context of various merger scenarios.
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