SDSS J124155.33+114003.7 – a missing link between compact elliptical and ultracompact dwarf galaxies

  1. Igor V. Chilingarian1,2,*,
  2. Gary A. Mamon3

Article first published online: 25 FEB 2008

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00438.x

Issue

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters

Volume 385, Issue 1, pages L83–L87, March 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Chilingarian, I. V. and Mamon, G. A. (2008), SDSS J124155.33+114003.7 – a missing link between compact elliptical and ultracompact dwarf galaxies. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 385: L83–L87. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00438.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, LERMA, UMR 8112, 61 Av. de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France

  2. 2

    Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, 13 Universitetski prospect, 119992 Moscow, Russia

  3. 3

    Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, UMR 7095: CNRS & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 98 bis Bd Arago, 75014 Paris, France

* E-mail: Igor.Chilingarian@obspm.fr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 25 FEB 2008
  3. Accepted 2007 December 17. Received 2007 December 12; in original form 2007 November 18

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (467K)

Keywords:

  • galaxies: dwarf;
  • galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD;
  • galaxies: evolution;
  • galaxies: kinematics and dynamics;
  • galaxies: stellar content

ABSTRACT

We report the discovery of a compact object (Re= 32 pc, MB=−12.34 mag) at a projected distance of 9 kpc from Messier 59, a giant elliptical in the Virgo cluster. Using HST imaging and SDSS spectroscopy, both available in the Virtual Observatory, we find that this object has a blue core containing one-quarter of the light, and a redder n= 1 Sérsic envelope, as well as luminosity-weighted age of 9.3 ± 1.4 Gyr, a metallicity of −0.03 ± 0.04 dex and a velocity dispersion of 48 ± 5 km s−1. While ultracompact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) in the face-on view of the Fundamental Plane are found to form a sequence connecting the highest-luminosity globular clusters with the lowest-luminosity dwarf ellipticals, the compact object near M59 lies in between this UCD sequence and the positions of compact ellipticals. Its stellar age, metallicity, and effective surface brightness are similar to low-luminosity ellipticals and lenticulars, suggesting that SDSS J124155.33+114003.7 is a result of the tidal stripping of such an object.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (467K)