Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21546333c&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #463.33; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.1116
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Within the last few years, studies have found that at least 30 per cent of low-redshift (0 < z < 0.11) early-type galaxies show signs of recent star formation (< 1 Gyr), constituting galaxy mass fractions of up to a few per cent. Minor mergers involving companion galaxies of considerably lower mass are the most likely explanation. The S0 galaxy NGC 4150 is an early-type galaxy with indications of recent star formation. Previous observations (SAURON and GALEX) have shown it to possess blue NUV-optical colours, enhanced central H_beta absorption, and a kinematically decoupled core. The first two characteristics are indicative of recent star formation. The latter points towards a past merger with a less massive, gas-rich galaxy as both the source of the disturbed dynamics in the centre of NGC 4150 and as the trigger for recent star formation. Here, we use high resolution UV-optical photometry from HST+WFC3 to accurately quantify the age, mass and spatial distribution of young stars in NGC 4150, with the aim of constraining some of the parameters of the suspected merger event (e.g. age, mass-ratio). This paper is based on Early Release Science observations made by the WFC3 Scientific Oversight Committee. We are grateful to the Director of the Space Telescope Science Institute for awarding Director's Discretionary time for this program.
Crockett Mark
Kaviraj Sugata
O'Connell Robert
Silk Joseph
SOC WFC3
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