We present precision radial velocities and stellar population parameters for 77 star clusters in the Local Group galaxy M33. Our Gran Telescopio de Canarias and William Herschel Telescope ...observations sample both young, massive clusters and known/candidate globular clusters (GCs), spanning ages ∼106–1010 yr, and metallicities, M/H ∼ −1.7 to solar. The cluster system exhibits an age–metallicity relation; the youngest clusters are the most metal rich. When compared to H i data, clusters with M/H ∼ −1.0 and younger than ∼4 Gyr are clearly identified as a disc population. The clusters show evidence for strong time evolution in the disc radial metallicity gradient (dM/Hdt/dR = 0.03 dex kpc−1 Gyr−1). The oldest clusters have stronger, more negative gradients than the youngest clusters in M33. The clusters also show a clear age–velocity dispersion relation. The line-of-sight velocity dispersions of the clusters increases with age similar to Milky Way open clusters and stars. The general shape of the relation is reproduced by disc heating simulations, and the similarity between the relations in M33 and the Milky Way suggests that heating by substructure and cooling of the interstellar medium both play a role in shaping this relation. We identify 12 ‘classical’ GCs, six of which are newly identified GC candidates. The GCs are more metal rich than Milky Way halo clusters, and show weak rotation. The inner (R < 4.5 kpc) GCs exhibit a steep radial metallicity gradient (dM/H/dR = −0.29 ± 0.11 dex kpc−1) and an exponential-like surface density profile. We argue that these inner GCs are thick disc rather than halo objects.
We present a catalog of 2990 extended sources in a 1{sup 0} x 1{sup 0} area centered on M33 using the MegaCam camera on the 3.6 m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. The catalog includes 599 new ...candidate stellar clusters, 204 previously confirmed clusters, 1969 likely background galaxies, and 218 unknown extended objects. We present ugriz integrated magnitudes of the candidates and confirmed star clusters (SCs) as well as the full width at half maximum, ellipticity, and stellarity. Based on the properties of the confirmed SCs, we select a sub-sample of highly probable clusters composed of 246 objects. The integrated photometry of the complete cluster catalog reveals a wide range of colors of -0.4 < (g - r) < 1.5 and -1.0 < (r - i) < 1.0 with no obvious cluster subpopulations. Comparisons with models of simple stellar populations suggest a large range of ages some as old as {approx}10 Gyr. In addition, we find a sequence in the color-color diagrams that deviates from the expected direction of evolution. This feature could be associated with very young clusters (<10{sup 7} yr) possessing significant nebular emission. Analysis of the radial density distribution suggests that the cluster system of M33 has suffered from significant depletion possibly due to interactions with M31. We also detect a gap in the cluster distribution in the color-color diagram at (g - r) {approx_equal} 0.3 and (u - g) {approx_equal} 0.8. This gap could be interpreted as an evolutionary effect. This complete catalog provides promising targets for deep photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy to study the structure and star formation history of M33.
The Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey is an ongoing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) multi-cycle program to obtain high spatial resolution imaging of one-third of the M31 disk at ...ultraviolet through near-infrared wavelengths. In this paper, we present the first installment of the PHAT stellar cluster catalog. When completed, the PHAT cluster catalog will be among the largest and most comprehensive surveys of resolved star clusters in any galaxy. The exquisite spatial resolution achieved with HST has allowed us to identify hundreds of new clusters that were previously inaccessible with existing ground-based surveys. We identify 601 clusters in the Year 1 sample, representing more than a factor of four increase over previous catalogs within the current survey area (390 arcmin super(2)). This work presents results derived from the first ~25% of the survey data; we estimate that the final sample will include ~2500 clusters. For the Year 1 objects, we present a catalog with positions, radii, and six-band integrated photometry. Along with a general characterization of the cluster luminosities and colors, we discuss the cluster luminosity function, the cluster size distributions, and highlight a number of individually interesting clusters found in the Year 1 search.
Context. As a consequence of internal and external dynamical processes, Galactic globular clusters (GCs) have properties that vary radially. Wide-field observations covering the entire projected area ...of GCs out to their tidal radii (rtidal) can therefore give crucial information on these important relics of the Milky Way formation era. Aims. The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) provides wide field-of-view (2 deg2) images in 12 narrow, intermediate and broad-band filters optimized for stellar photometry. Here we have applied J-PLUS data for the first time for the study of Galactic GCs using science verification data obtained for the very metal-poor (Fe/H ≈−2.3) GC M 15 located at ~10 kpc from the Sun. Previous studies based on spectroscopy found evidence of multiple stellar populations (MPs) through their different abundances of C, N, O, and Na. Our J-PLUS data provide low-resolution spectral energy distributions covering the near-UV to the near-IR, allowing us to instead search for MPs based on pseudo-spectral fitting diagnostics. Methods. We have built and discussed the stellar radial density profile (RDP) and surface brightness profiles (SBPs) reaching up to rtidal. Since J-PLUS FoV is larger than M 15’s rtidal, the field contamination can be properly taken into account. We also demonstrated the power of J-PLUS unique filter system by showing colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) using different filter combinations and for different cluster regions. Results. J-PLUS photometric quality and depth are good enough to reach the upper end of M 15’s main-sequence. CMDs based on the colours (u − z) and (J0378 − J0861) are found to be particularly useful to search for splits in the sequences formed by the upper red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We interpret these split sequences as evidence for the presence of MPs. Furthermore, we show that the (u − z) × (J0378 − g) colour–colour diagram allows us to distinguish clearly between field and M 15 stars, which is important to minimize the sample contamination. Conclusions. The J-PLUS filter combinations (u − z) and (J0378 − J0861), which are sensitive to metal abundances, are able to distinguish different sequences in the upper RGB and AGB regions of the CMD of M 15, showing the feasibility of identifying MPs without the need of spectroscopy. This demonstrates that the J-PLUS survey will have sufficient spatial coverage and spectral resolution to perform a large statistical study of GCs through multi-band photometry in the coming years.
Context.
As a consequence of internal and external dynamical processes, Galactic globular clusters (GCs) have properties that vary radially. Wide-field observations covering the entire projected area ...of GCs out to their tidal radii (
r
tidal
) can therefore give crucial information on these important relics of the Milky Way formation era.
Aims.
The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) provides wide field-of-view (2 deg
2
) images in 12 narrow, intermediate and broad-band filters optimized for stellar photometry. Here we have applied J-PLUS data for the first time for the study of Galactic GCs using science verification data obtained for the very metal-poor (Fe/H ≈−2.3) GC M 15 located at ~10 kpc from the Sun. Previous studies based on spectroscopy found evidence of multiple stellar populations (MPs) through their different abundances of C, N, O, and Na. Our J-PLUS data provide low-resolution spectral energy distributions covering the near-UV to the near-IR, allowing us to instead search for MPs based on pseudo-spectral fitting diagnostics.
Methods.
We have built and discussed the stellar radial density profile (RDP) and surface brightness profiles (SBPs) reaching up to
r
tidal
. Since J-PLUS FoV is larger than M 15’s
r
tidal
, the field contamination can be properly taken into account. We also demonstrated the power of J-PLUS unique filter system by showing colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) using different filter combinations and for different cluster regions.
Results.
J-PLUS photometric quality and depth are good enough to reach the upper end of M 15’s main-sequence. CMDs based on the colours (
u
−
z
) and (
J
0378 −
J
0861) are found to be particularly useful to search for splits in the sequences formed by the upper red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We interpret these split sequences as evidence for the presence of MPs. Furthermore, we show that the (
u
−
z
) × (
J
0378 −
g
) colour–colour diagram allows us to distinguish clearly between field and M 15 stars, which is important to minimize the sample contamination.
Conclusions.
The J-PLUS filter combinations (
u
−
z
) and (
J
0378 −
J
0861), which are sensitive to metal abundances, are able to distinguish different sequences in the upper RGB and AGB regions of the CMD of M 15, showing the feasibility of identifying MPs without the need of spectroscopy. This demonstrates that the J-PLUS survey will have sufficient spatial coverage and spectral resolution to perform a large statistical study of GCs through multi-band photometry in the coming years.
Context.
Extragalactic globular clusters (GCs) are key objects in studies of galactic histories. The advent of wide-field surveys, such as the Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS), ...offers new possibilities for the study of these systems.
Aims.
We performed the first study of GCs in J-PLUS to recover information on the history of NGC 1023, taking advantage of wide-field images and 12 filters.
Methods.
We developed the semiautomatic pipeline GCFinder for detecting GC candidates in J-PLUS images, which can also be adapted to similar surveys. We studied the stellar population properties of a sub-sample of GC candidates using spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting.
Results.
We found 523 GC candidates in NGC 1023, about 300 of which are new. We identified subpopulations of GC candidates, where age and metallicity distributions have multiple peaks. By comparing our results with the simulations, we report a possible broad age-metallicity relation, supporting the notion that NGC 1023 has experienced accretion events in the past. With a dominating age peak at 10
10
yr, we report a correlation between masses and ages that suggests that massive GC candidates are more likely to survive the turbulent history of the host galaxy. Modeling the light of NGC 1023, we find two spiral-like arms and detect a displacement of the galaxy’s photometric center with respect to the outer isophotes and center of GC distribution (~700pc and ~1600pc, respectively), which could be the result of ongoing interactions between NGC 1023 and NGC 1023A.
Conclusions.
By studying the GC system of NGC 1023 with J-PLUS, we showcase the power of multi-band surveys for these kinds of studies and we find evidence to support the complex accretion history of the host galaxy.
Extragalactic globular clusters (GCs) are key objects for studying the history of galaxies. The arrival of wide-field surveys such as the Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) offers ...new possibilities for the study of these systems. We perform the first study of GCs in J-PLUS to recover information about the history of NGC 1023 taking advantage of wide-field images and 12 filters. We develop the semiautomatic pipeline GCFinder that detects GC candidates in J-PLUS images and can also be adapted to similar surveys. We study the stellar population properties of a sub-sample of GC candidates using spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. We find 523 GC candidates in NGC 1023, of which \(\sim\)300 are new. We identify subpopulations of GC candidates, where age and metallicity distributions have multiple peaks. By comparing our results with simulations, we report a possible broad age-metallicity relation, evidence that NGC 1023 experienced accretion events in the past. The dominating age peak is at \(10^{10}\) yr. We report a correlation between masses and ages that suggests that massive GC candidates are more likely to survive the turbulent history of the host galaxy. Modeling the light of NGC 1023, we find two spiral-like arms and detect a displacement of the galaxy's photometric center with respect to the outer isophotes and center of GC distribution (\(\sim\)700 pc and \(\sim\)1600 pc, respectively), which could be the result of ongoing interaction between NGC 1023 and NGC 1023A. By studying the GC system of NGC 1023 with J-PLUS we showcase the power of multi-band surveys for this kind of study and find evidence of a complex accretion history of the host galaxy.
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