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Title

Keck imaging of the globular cluster systems in the early-type galaxies NGC 1052 and 7332

Author(s)

Forbes, Duncan A.;  Georgakakis, Antonis;  Brodie, Jean P.

Abstract

The presence of two globular cluster subpopulations in early-type galaxies is now the norm rather than the exception. Here we present two more examples for which the host galaxy appears to have undergone a recent merger. Using multi-colour Keck imaging of NGC 1052 and 7332 we find evidence for a bimodal globular cluster colour distribution in both galaxies, with roughly equal numbers of blue and red globular clusters. The blue ones have similar colours to those in the Milky Way halo and are thus probably very old and metal-poor. If the red globular cluster subpopulations are at least of solar metallicity, then stellar population models indicate young ages. We discuss the origin of globular clusters within the framework of formation models. We conclude that recent merger events in these two galaxies have had little effect on their overall globular cluster systems. We also derive globular cluster density profiles, global specific frequencies and, in the case of NGC 1052, radial colour gradients and azimuthal distribution. In general these globular cluster properties are normal for early-type galaxies.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. School of Biophysical Science and Electrical Engineering. Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing

Source

Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 325, no. 4 (Aug. 2001), pp. 1431-1440

Publication year

2001

Keyword(s)

galaxies: individual: NGC 1052;  galaxies: individual: NGC 7332;  galaxies: star clusters

Publisher

Blackwell Science Ltd.

ISSN

0035-8711

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04543.x

Copyright

Copyright © 2001 The Royal Astronomical Society. Author's final draft reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

Full text

Peer reviewed