Perhaps They are not Globular Clusters After All

Details Perhaps They are not Globular Clusters After All Perhaps They are not Globular Clusters After All

Jan 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005hia....13..201k&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

Our 2dF Fornax Cluster Spectroscopic Survey (FCSS) and follow-up work in the Virgo Cluster have shown that the cores of both galaxy clusters contain a previously-unknown class of object ultra-compact dwarf (UCD) galaxies. The UCDs are old stellar systems but are 10 times larger than the biggest globular clusters and located in the intra-cluster medium. Our favoured hypotheses for their origin is that they are the nuclei of tidally stripped nucleated dwarf elliptical galaxies (dENs).
We present high-resolution imaging (HST) and spectroscopy (VLT and Keck) of the Fornax Cluster UCDs. These enigmatic objects are dynamically distinct from both globular clusters and all known galaxy types. We present deep multicolour imaging of the Fornax Cluster core with the CTIO 8K CCD Mosaic comparing the colours of the UCDs dEN and globular cluster populations. These data support our hypothesis that UCDs are the remnant nuclei of dENs which have been tidally stripped by the central cluster galaxy. Over time this disruption contributes diffuse stellar material to the IGM as well as creating UCDs some of which are captured by central cluster galaxies. They may contribute to the enormous globular cluster populations despite being true globular clusters.

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