Spectrophotometry of three faint blue galaxies in selected area 57

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166501· OSTI ID:6740993

Gallagher, III, J S; Hamilton, D

Spectrophotometric observations are presented for two distant and one nearby faint blue galaxy. All three systems have emission lines that are appropriate in strength for their optical colors and, by comparison with nearby blue galaxies, the emission lines are likely to be due to photoionization by OB stars. The two distant galaxies resemble nearby luminous blue galaxies of the types cataloged by Zwicky or Markarian and thus are not unique classes of objects in terms of stellar content. If seen at higher redshifts, they would fall into the domain populated by very faint very blue galaxies. Blue galaxies at high redshifts are not required to be in very young or starburst evolutionary stages. The rates of spectral evolution of these objects can reasonably cover a wide range of possibilities; thus, it is impossible to tell from studies of individual galaxies of this type whether or not there is net evolution in the galaxy population between the present epoch and z of roughly 0.25. The nearby faint blue galaxy is a typical, noninteracting amorphous system. 48 references.

• Research Organization: Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ (USA); National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson, AZ (USA); California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6740993
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 330; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COLOR
EMISSION SPECTRA
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
IONIZATION
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RED SHIFT
SPECTRA
SPECTROPHOTOMETRY
STARS