Spectroscopy of globular clusters in M87 and M49

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Astronomical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115460· OSTI ID:6934360

Mould, J R; Oke, J B; De Zeeuw, P T; Nemec, J M ^[1]

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1. Palomar Observatory, Pasadena, CA (USA) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA) British Columbia Univ., Vancouver (Canada)

Optical multislit spectra of globular clusters in two giant elliptical galaxies in the Virgo Cluster indicate average metal abundances of one-sixth and one-tenth solar composition for M49 and M87, respectively. These estimates are based on the strength of Mg lines. Taken together with observations of globular clusters in dwarf ellipticals this suggests a direct relation between mean metallicity of the cluster system and the luminosity of the parent galaxy which is an interesting constraint on theories of cluster formation during the protogalactic epoch. Rotation is evident in both globular cluster systems. The line-of-sight velocity dispersions of clusters in the two galaxies are estimated to be 340 + or - 50 km/s (M49) and 386 + or - 42 km/s (M87). Although sparsely sampled, the velocity dispersion profiles of the cluster systems are flat, suggesting the existence of an isothermal halo of dark matter in these ellipticals. 37 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6934360
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astronomical Journal; (USA) Vol. 99; ISSN 0004-6256; ISSN ANJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ABUNDANCE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CONFIGURATION
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
MOTION
NONLUMINOUS MATTER
ROTATION
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
STAR CLUSTERS
STAR EVOLUTION
VELOCITY
VISIBLE SPECTRA