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Galaxy Evolution Explorer Ultraviolet Photometry of Globular Clusters in M31

Authors :
Alexander S. Szalay
Sug Whan Kim
Jae Woo Lee
Suk-Jin Yoon
R. M. Rich
Tom A. Barlow
B. Milliard
Timothy M. Heckman
Y. I. Byun
D. C. Martin
T. Small
Y. W. Lee
Roger F. Malina
Sukyoung K. Yi
Ted K. Wyder
Barry Y. Welsh
Karl Forster
Luciana Bianchi
David Schiminovich
B. F. Madore
Peter G. Friedman
Patrick N. Jelinsky
Jose Donas
Young-Jong Sohn
Myungkook J. Jee
Soo-Chang Rey
Patrick Morrissey
O. H. W. Siegmund
J. Rhee
Susan G. Neff
Source :
The Astrophysical Journal. 619:L119-L122
Publication Year :
2005
Publisher :
American Astronomical Society, 2005.

Abstract

We present ultraviolet photometry for globular clusters (GCs) in M31 from 15 square deg of imaging using the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). We detect 200 and 94 GCs with certainty in the near-ultraviolet (NUV; 1750 - 2750 Angstroms) and far-ultraviolet (FUV; 1350 - 1750 Angstroms) bandpasses, respectively. Our rate of detection is about 50% in the NUV and 23% in the FUV, to an approximate limiting V magnitude of 19. Out of six clusters with [Fe/H]>-1 seen in the NUV, none is detected in the FUV bandpass. Furthermore, we find no candidate metal-rich clusters with significant FUV flux, because of the contribution of blue horizontal-branch (HB) stars, such as NGC 6388 and NGC 6441, which are metal-rich Galactic GCs with hot HB stars. We show that our GALEX photometry follows the general color trends established in previous UV studies of GCs in M31 and the Galaxy. Comparing our data with Galactic GCs in the UV and with population synthesis models, we suggest that the age range of M31 and Galactic halo GCs are similar.

Details

ISSN :
15384357 and 0004637X
Volume :
619
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Astrophysical Journal
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........890e843897ddb142d62d1e8465d60295