The spatial distributions and intrinsic shapes of dwarf elliptical galaxies in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185577· OSTI ID:7253517

Ferguson, H C; Sandage, A ^[1]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (USA) Mount Wilson and Las Campanas Observatories, Pasadena, CA (USA)

Data from deep photographic surveys of the Fornax and Virgo Clusters show that the projected radial number density profile of dwarf ellipticals in these clusters depends both on luminosity and on the presence or absence of nucleation. All nucleated dE's and the nonnucleated dE's that are fainter than M(B)T about -14.2 are concentrated toward the centers of clusters like the giant E and S0 galaxies. In contrast, nonnucleated dE's brighter than M(B)T about -14.2 are distributed like the spirals and irregulars. Furthermore, the flattening distribution of bright nonnucleated dE's is similar to that of the dwarf irregulars, but differs from the flattening distribution of either the nucleated dwarfs (dE, N) or of the giant ellipticals. The similarity of flattenings of dE (bright, no N) and Im types removes one of the previous objections to the hypothesis that some dwarf ellipticals could be stripped Im's. However, the data are also consistent with stochastic self-propagating star-formation models of irregular galaxies. 25 refs.

• OSTI ID: 7253517
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 346; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONFIGURATION
DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
ELLIPTICAL CONFIGURATION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
GALAXY CLUSTERS
LUMINOSITY
MORPHOLOGY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION