TY - JOUR
T1 - A recent merger in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy
AU - Coleman, Matthew G.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - This contribution describes a recent photometric survey of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy. CCD photometry in two colours (V and I) was obtained for a 10 degree2 region centred on Fornax. By selecting stars sharing the colour-magnitude space of this system's RGB, we were able to remove the majority of field stars, and thereby probe the structure of Fornax at a previously unattained level. The data indicate that this dwarf galaxy contains two shells, both aligned with the Fornax major axis. Also, two 'lobed' structures sharing the alignment of these shells were discovered beyond the nominal tidal radius. These structures appear to be the remnant of a companion dwarf galaxy which merged with Fornax approximately 2 Gyr ago.
AB - This contribution describes a recent photometric survey of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy. CCD photometry in two colours (V and I) was obtained for a 10 degree2 region centred on Fornax. By selecting stars sharing the colour-magnitude space of this system's RGB, we were able to remove the majority of field stars, and thereby probe the structure of Fornax at a previously unattained level. The data indicate that this dwarf galaxy contains two shells, both aligned with the Fornax major axis. Also, two 'lobed' structures sharing the alignment of these shells were discovered beyond the nominal tidal radius. These structures appear to be the remnant of a companion dwarf galaxy which merged with Fornax approximately 2 Gyr ago.
KW - Galaxies: dwarf
KW - Galaxies: individual (Fornax)
KW - Galaxies: interactions
KW - Galaxies: photometry
KW - Galaxies: stellar content
KW - Galaxy: halo
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=63549107302&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1743921305003455
DO - 10.1017/S1743921305003455
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:63549107302
SN - 1743-9213
VL - 1
SP - 42
EP - 46
JO - Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
JF - Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
IS - C198
ER -