Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The stellar populations in the low-luminosity, early-type galaxy NGC 59

Van Loon

The stellar populations in the low-luminosity, early-type galaxy NGC 59 Thumbnail


Authors



Abstract

Low-luminosity galaxies may be the building blocks of more luminous systems. Southern African Large Telescope observations of the low-luminosity, early-type galaxy NGC 59 are obtained and analysed. These data are used to measure the stellar population parameters in the centre and off-centre regions of this galaxy, in order to uncover its likely star formation history. We find evidence of older stars, in addition to young stars in the emission-line regions. The metallicity of the stellar population is constrained to be [Z/H] ~ -1.1 to -1.6, which is extremely low, even for this low-luminosity galaxy, since it is not classed as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy. The measured [a/Fe] ratio is subsolar, which indicates an extended star formation history in NGC 59. If such objects formed the building blocks of more massive, early-type galaxies, then they must have been gaseous mergers, rather than dry mergers, in order to increase the metals to observed levels in luminous, early-type galaxies.

Acceptance Date Apr 24, 2015
Publication Date Apr 24, 2015
Journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Print ISSN 0035-8711
Publisher Oxford University Press
Pages 1338 - 1348
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv690
Keywords galaxies, abundances, elliptical and lenticular cD, individual, NGC 59, stellar content
Publisher URL http://mnras.oxfordjournals.org/content/450/2/1338

Files

J Van Loon - The stellar populations in the low-luminosity early-type galaxy NGC 59.pdf (727 Kb)
PDF







You might also like



Downloadable Citations