Time-slicing spiral galaxies with SDSS-IV MaNGA
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
- Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), La Laguna E-38205, Spain, Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), La Laguna E-38200, Spain, Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, IC2, Liverpool Science Park, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
- Departamento de Astronomia, IF, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15051, Porto Alegre, RS 91501-970, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA, Rua General José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20921-400, Brazil
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Utah, 115 S. 1400 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- McDonald Observatory, The University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway Stop C1402, Austin, TX 78712, USA
ABSTRACT Spectra of galaxies contain a wealth of information about the stellar populations from which they are made. With integral field unit (IFU) surveys, such data can be used to map out stellar population properties across the face of a galaxy, allowing one to go beyond simple radial profiles and study details of non-axisymmetric structure. To-date, however, such studies have been limited by the quality of available data and the power of spectral analysis tools. We now take the next step and study the barred spiral galaxy MCG + 07-28-064 from observations obtained as part of the SDSS-IV MaNGA project. We find that we can decompose this galaxy into ‘time slices,’ which reveal the varying contributions that stars of differing ages make to its bar and spiral structure, offering new insight into the evolution of these features. We find evidence for the ongoing growth of the bar, including the most recent star formation on its leading edge, and for the underlying density wave responsible for spiral structure. This pilot study indicates that there is a wealth of untapped information on the spatial distribution of star formation histories available in the current generation of IFU galaxy surveys.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1560708
- Journal Information:
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Journal Name: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 489 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 0035-8711
- Publisher:
- Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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