Stellar Populations of Spiral Disks: The Data

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

We present some of the data obtained for a study of the stellar populations in the disks of spiral galaxies. The sample consists of ten spirals from the Aaronson et al. (1982) data set paired in B_{T-H_{-0.5}}, and contains eight Sc, one Sd and one Sm. The global properties of the galaxies include colors that range from B_{T-H_{-0.5}} = 1.1 to 2.4, inclinations of ~ 45(o) , angular sizes <= 3' and apparent magnitudes BT from 10.7 to 12.6. The data set includes long slit spectra for each galaxy that cover 3650 Angstroms - 6100 Angstroms at 3 Angstroms/pixel, CCD BVRI images and NICMOS3 JHK images. The spectra were acquired with the MMT Red Channel spectrograph, the CCD images with the 1.3m MDM telescope with G. Wegner (Dartmouth) and the NICMOS3 images with the Steward 61'' telescope with M. Reike (Arizona). The spectra are oriented on each galaxy by two fiducial points. The S/N is sufficient to study absorption-line strengths, including those on the Lick system (e.g. Mg_2), so that these data can be compared to existing data for ellipticals. Twelve to 24 individual positions can be sampled in a galaxy in this manner, depending on the extent and surface brightness of the galaxy. The BVRIJHK images will be used to determine the colors of the stellar populations. Together, the spectra and images will be used to calibrate the stellar populations as a function of color, position in the galaxy, and between galaxies of similar global color and of different global color. The ultimate aim is to assemble a library of spectra and colors for stellar populations that are known to be mixed-aged, 2-4 Gyr old. Questions these data are designed to address include: What is the range of stellar populations that exist in spiral galaxies? How do they compare with those observed in elliptical galaxies, esp. those suspected of being recent mergers? How strongly are the integrated colors of spirals correlated with their stellar populations? Finally, can these data be used to gain greater insight into the origin of the Tully-Fisher relation?

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