Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003aas...20312208f&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society Meeting 203, #122.08; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 35, p.1409
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Luminous Blue Compacts: Galaxy Evolution Templates
We describe a program to explore the structural properties and evolutionary history of luminous (M[B] < -18.5) blue compact galaxies (LBCGs) in the nearby universe. LBCGs are systems undergoing an episode of enhanced massive star formation, based on their blue colors and UV/optical spectra. Their total luminosities indicate that 105 to 107 massive stars have formed within the last 10-20 Myr. Due to the scale of this star formation, LBCGs appear to be the best analogs in the nearby universe to the early evolutionary phases of most galaxies. Their value is that these systems can be studied at many wavelengths with high spatial and spectral resolution, unlike extremely distant systems, which are faint and subtend a few arcseconds, requiring observations with the largest telescopes. LBCGs are both powerful star formation engines, yet not heavily obscured, permitting direct detection of the starburst populations, given sufficient spatial resolution. The processes of galaxy assembly can be examined in great detail.
We have initiated an optical/NIR imaging survey of 100 LBCGs, using the 2.1m at McDonald Observatory. Analysis of these images provides insight on their structural and photometric properties, helps quantify the formation rate and distribution of recently-formed stars, and assesses the degree to which these systems are interacting with nearby galaxies. We will report on the sample, their optical morphologies, thermal infrared properties, and compare representative LBCGs to well-studied starburst systems.
Support for this project has been provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, through its Advanced Research Program.
Appleby Heather
Fanelli Michael N.
Marcum Pamela Marie
No associations
LandOfFree
Luminous Blue Compacts: Galaxy Evolution Templates 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 Luminous Blue Compacts: Galaxy Evolution Templates, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Luminous Blue Compacts: Galaxy Evolution Templates will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1423270