Other
Scientific paper
Dec 1997
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997hst..prop.7878g&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #7878
Other
Hst Proposal Id #7878 Galaxies
Scientific paper
This proposal addresses two fundamental issues: the stellar content of elliptical galaxies and the calibration of the elliptical galaxy distance scale. The nearest normal giant elliptical galaxy is NGC3379 at a distance of 10--12 Mpc; individual red giant stars have already been detected with WFPC2 in its halo. With NICMOS, we can study in greater detail the stellar population of NGC3379 from observations of resolved stars. We propose to obtain images of three widely spaced fields using the F110W and F160W bandpasses to construct a J-H color-magnitude diagram of the red giant branch in the halo of NGC3379. These will be the first such data for a normal, luminous elliptical galaxy and will allow us to address a number of fundamental questions. Comparison of the position and width of the red and asymptotic giant branches with theoretical isochrones will measure the metallicity, metallicity spread, and presence of intermediate age populations in NGC3379. The luminosity function of the red giants can be compared to that inferred from surface brightness fluctuation measurements, testing the calibration of this distance indicator. NICMOS imaging will also help improve the red giant branch tip distance, which can be compared to the other distance estimates for NGC3379, which are all tied to Cepheids. Finally, candidate Mira variables can be identified by observing at 2 different epochs, providing another probe into the star formation history and present stellar population, and possibly an independent distance estimate.
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