SUBARU SPECTROSCOPY OF THE GLOBULAR CLUSTERS IN THE VIRGO GIANT ELLIPTICAL GALAXY M86

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/757/2/184· OSTI ID:22092145

Park, Hong Soo; Lee, Myung Gyoon ^[1]

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1. Astronomy Program, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742 (Korea, Republic of)

We present the first spectroscopic study of the globular clusters (GCs) in the giant elliptical galaxy (gE) M86 in the Virgo Cluster. Using spectra obtained in the Multi-Object Spectroscopy mode of the Faint Object Camera and Spectrograph on the Subaru telescope, we measure the radial velocities for 25 GCs in M86. The mean velocity of the GCs is derived to be v-bar{sub p} = -354{sub -79}{sup +81} km s{sup -1}, which is different from the velocity of the M86 nucleus (v{sub gal} = -234 {+-} 41 km s{sup -1}). We estimate the velocity dispersion of the GCs, {sigma}{sub p} = 292{sup +32}{sub -32} km s{sup -1}, and find a hint of rotation in the M86 GC system. A comparison of the observed velocity dispersion profiles of the GCs and stars with a prediction based on the stellar mass profile strongly suggests the existence of an extended dark matter halo in M86. We also estimate the metallicities and ages for 16 and 8 GCs, respectively. The metallicities of M86 GCs are in the range of -2.0 < [Fe/H] <-0.2 with a mean value of -1.13 {+-} 0.47. These GCs show a wide age distribution from 4 to 15 Gyr.

• OSTI ID: 22092145
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 757; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
CAMERAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
GALAXIES
HYDROGEN
IRON
MASS
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
RADIAL VELOCITY
ROTATION
STAR CLUSTERS
STARS
TELESCOPES