NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0406
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0406 |
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PI: Heather Morrison, Case Western Reserve University, heather@vegemite.astr.cwru.edu
Address: 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
CoI: Denise Hurley-Keller, Case Western Reserve University
CoI: Paul Harding, Case Western Reserve University
Title: Halo Kinematics of Disk Galaxies at 10 Mpc without Keck
Abstract:
The study of the old stellar populations in nearby galaxies
complements the high-redshift data, which are limited by surface
brightness dimming, resolution and dust. Ongoing surveys of the old
populations in the Milky Way are beginning to piece together the story
of its formation and early evolution. In this project we are extending
our knowledge of old populations in the Milky Way to a sample of nearby,
edge-on disk galaxies with a range of Hubble type. Our deep surface
photometry of these galaxies has shown that surface photometry alone is
not enough to distinguish between populations that formed in quite
distinct ways, like thick disk and halo. Kinematical data are needed
for these faint old stars. This semester we are asking for WIYN time to
survey the edge-on galaxies NGC 891 (which is very similar to the Milky
Way) and the earlier type galaxy NGC 7814 for planetary nebulae (PNe).
Subsequent spectroscopy of these PNe will allow us to measure halo
kinematics for the first time in disk galaxies outside the Local Group ---
without using the Keck telescope, needed to study globular cluster
kinematics at these distances.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2002B-0406 |
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