Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21934619c&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #346.19
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We present a Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopic study of fifteen dwarf spheroidal (dSph) satellites of the Andromeda galaxy. Our aim is to understand the properties of both the dSphs and Andromeda. Previously, detailed spectroscopic studies were carried out on six of these dSphs using smaller data sets, and limited spectroscopic studies were carried out on the remaining nine. The data sets analyzed in this research include more stars and higher quality data than those of previous studies. In order to accurately study the dSphs, we have developed a method that uses the stars’ velocities, metallicities, and projected distances from the center of each dSph to separate members from non-members of the dSphs. The resulting samples are expected to have a low fraction of contamination by non-members, which makes this method critical for all future studies of Andromeda dSphs. We calculate the mean radial velocities and velocity dispersions of the dSphs, and the new dSph velocity measurements are used to estimate Andromeda's dynamical mass. This mass estimate is more accurate than previous ones because it uses more dynamical tracers. The dSph-based mass estimate is corroborated by a different mass estimate based on the kinematics of Andromeda's field halo stars. This is the first time the mass of Andromeda has been calculated using its halo stars. Future steps will include calculating the dark matter content of the dSphs and comparing their chemical abundances to those of Andromeda's halo, which is made up of former dSphs.
This research was supported by the Science Internship Program (SIP) at UCSC and the National Science Foundation.
Beaton Rachael Lynn
Choudhury Abrar
Gilbert Karoline M.
Guhathakurta Puraga
SPLASH Collaboration
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