![Fields observed with HST for M32 (F1) and M31 (F2) overplotted on a M32 image from ground. Fields observed with HST for M32 (F1) and M31 (F2) overplotted on a M32 image from ground.](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_square_2_2_to_320px/public/images/news/resultados94_98.jpg?itok=BfpzBi1h)
We use deep Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys/High Resolution Channel observations of a field within M32 (F1) and an M31 background field (F2) to determine the star formation history (SFH) of M32 from its resolved stellar population. We find that 2-5 Gyr old stars contribute ~40% ± 17% of M32's mass, while ~55% ± 21% of M32's mass comes from stars older than 5 Gyr. The SFH additionally indicates the presence of young (<2 Gyr old), metal-poor ([M/H] ~ –0.7) stars, suggesting that blue straggler stars contribute ~2% of the mass at F1; the remaining ~3% of the mass is in young
Advertised on