The panoramic view of spiral galaxies: the nature of the outskirts of spirals

Details The panoramic view of spiral galaxies: the nature of the outskirts of spirals The panoramic view of spiral galaxies: the nature of the outskirts of spirals

Aug 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008noao.prop..307m&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2008B-0307

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Scientific paper

We propose to use MOSAIC II to undertake a panoramic study of the stellar populations in the outskirts of NGC 253, a highly inclined spiral galaxy in the Sculptor group, the nearest galaxy group to the Local Group. These observations will allow accurate measurements of star counts, and color-magnitude diagrams ~ 2 magnitudes below the tip of the red giant branch over the largest area so far surveyed to these depths for giant stars in spiral galaxies beyond the Local Group. As such, this survey will provide the missing link between studies of the giant galaxies of the Local Group with those beyond, and to establish whether the findings made in the halos of the Local Group giant spirals are representative of other galaxies. We will measure metallicity distribution functions and stellar density profiles from star counts down to very low surface brightnesses, equivalent to ~ 31 magnitudes per square arcsec. These observations will allow the most detailed comparative studies to date of (i) the structural properties and metallicity distributions of halo field stars, (ii) the structure and properties of galactic disks, and (iii) the most complete study of globular cluster systems around spirals, and how they connect to field stars. The panoramic view will allow for the most meaningful search of tidal streams and merging debris around spirals. These observations will offer the ideal set to verify the predictions of cosmological galaxy formation models.

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