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The stellar populations in the low-luminosity, early-type galaxy NGC 59.
- Source :
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; 6/21/2015, Vol. 450 Issue 2, p1338-1348, 11p
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
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 [α/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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00358711
- Volume :
- 450
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 110315183
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv690