Globular Clusters as Probes of Galaxy Formation

Sharples, Ray; Beasley, Mike; Bridges, Terry; Faifer, Favio; Forbes, Duncan; Forte, Juan; Gebhardt, Karl; Hanes, Dave; Norris, Mark; Zepf, Steve
Bibliographical reference

NOAO Proposal ID #2007B-0122

Advertised on:
8
2007
Number of authors
10
IAC number of authors
1
Citations
0
Refereed citations
0
Description
Globular Clusters (GCs) provide crucial constraints on theories of the formation of galaxies as well as the amount and distribution of Dark Matter (DM) found in galaxies. We request time to extend our survey of nearby elliptical galaxies in high density and low density environments with observations of the globular cluster system of the nearby isolated elliptical galaxy NGC 720. Recent Chandra observations of NGC 720 have suggested that this galaxy has a highly flattened, triaxial dark matter halo, whilst stellar population studies of the integrated light suggest that it may also be an unequal mass merger remnant with an age 4Gyr. We will independently probe the halo mass distribution and measure the halo specific angular momentum to test merger models. We will also determine whether there is evidence for a younger component in the age/metallicity distribution of the globular clusters.