NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0523
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2006A-0523 |
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PI: William Lee Powell Jr, Texas Tech University, William.L.Powell@ttu.edu
Address: Department of Physics, Campus Box 41051, Lubbock, TX 79409-1051, USA
CoI: Dr. Ronald Wilhelm, Texas Tech University
Title: An Observational Study of Globular Cluster Tidal Streams
Abstract:
The existence of tidal streams surrounding globular clusters has
been well established in the literature. These streams have been shown
to consist of stars that have been tidally removed from the clusters as
they move through their orbits in the Milky Way. Theoretical models and
recent observations show that the most common stars in these streams are
the least massive stars in the cluster. I propose using the 0.9m
telescope to obtain photometry of carefully selected clusters and the
area around these clusters, deep enough to include the faintest stars
for which follow up spectroscopy can be obtained. I hope to map the
extent of the tidal streams around these clusters photometrically and
explore the luminosity and radial distribution function for the tails.
Our results will provide a unique picture of the mechanisms that form
these streams, and a better picture of the mass distribution in the
clusters and our galaxy.
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 > 2006A-0523 |
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