Deep hubble space telescope observations of blue star clusters in NGC 3597

Matthew N. Carlson, Jon A. Holtzman, Carl J. Grillmair, Jeremy R. Mould, Richard E. Griffiths, Gilda E. Ballester, Christopher J. Burrows, John T. Clarke, David Crisp, Robin W. Evans, John S. Gallagher, J. Jeff Hester, John G. Hoessel, Paul A. Scowen, Karl R. Stapelfeldt, John T. Trauger, Alan M. Watson, James A. Westphal

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14 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have analyzed HST/WFPC2 images of NGC 3597 and find ≃700 compact objects surrounding the galaxy with an average (B-R)o ≃ 0.6. We propose that the majority of these objects are young globular clusters. They have a spread in colors that is consistent with that expected for a population of young clusters with a common age and spread induced by photometric errors and reddening within NGC 3597. If these objects were similar to the Galactic globular cluster system seen at a younger age, we would predict a turnover in the luminosity function at B ≃ 23. However, we find that the luminosity function for the clusters is increasing to the limits of our photometry (B ≃ 27).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1700-1707
Number of pages8
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume117
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1999

Keywords

  • Galaxies: star clusters

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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  • HST observations of clusters in NGC 3597

    Carlson, M. N. (Creator), Holtzman, J. A. (Creator), Grillmair, C. J. (Creator), Mould, J. R. (Creator), Griffiths, R. E. (Creator), Ballester, G. E. (Creator), Burrows, C. J. (Creator), Clarke, J. T. (Creator), Crisp, D. (Creator), Evans, R. W. (Creator), Gallagher III, J. S. (Contributor), Hester, J. J. (Creator), Hoessel, J. G. (Creator), Scowen, P. A. (Creator), Stapelfeldt, K. R. (Creator), Trauger, J. T. (Creator), Watson, A. M. (Creator) & Westphal, J. A. (Creator), Strasbourg Astronomical Data Center, 2000

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