A census of ultra-compact dwarf galaxies in nearby galaxy clusters
Oct, 20106 pages
Part of Proceedings, A Universe of Dwarf Galaxies (CRAL-2010) : Lyon, France, June 14-18, 2010, 219-224
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- EAS Publ.Ser. 48 (2011) 219-224
Contribution to:
- , 219-224
- CRAL-2010
- Published: 2011
e-Print:
- 1010.3023 [astro-ph.CO]
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Abstract: (EDP Sciences)
A Universe of Dwarf GalaxiesM. Koleva, Ph. Prugniel and I. Vauglin (eds)EAS Publications Series, 48 (2011) 219–224A Census of Ultra-Compact Dwarf Galaxies in Nearby Galaxy ClustersM. HilkerEuropean Southern Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 2, 85748 Garching b. München, Germany e-mail: mhilker@eso.orgUltra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) are predominatly found in the cores of nearby galaxy clusters. Besides the Fornax and Virgo cluster, UCDs have also been confirmed in the twice as distant Hydra I and Centaurus clusters. Having (nearly) complete samples of UCDs in some of these clusters allows the study of the bulk properties with respect to the environment they are living in. Moreover, the relation of UCDs to other stellar systems in galaxy clusters, like globular clusters and dwarf ellipticals, can be investigated in detail with the present data sets. The general finding is that UCDs seem to be a heterogenous class of objects. Their spatial distribution within the clusters is in between those of globular clusters and dwarf ellipticals. In the colour-magnitude diagram, blue/metal-poor UCDs coincide with the sequence of nuclear star clusters, whereas red/metal-rich UCDs reach to higher masses and might have originated from the amalgamation of massive star cluster complexes in merger or starburst galaxies.Note:
- 6 pages, 3 figures; to appear in "A Universe of Dwarf Galaxies: Observations, Theories, Simulations", held in Lyon, France (June 14-18, 2010), eds. M. Koleva, P. Prugniel & I. Vauglin, EAS Series (Paris: EDP)
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