We report deep UBVR CCD photometry of stars in a portion of an arm of M 31, 20kpc southwest of the nucleus. The color-magnitude diagram shows a main sequence that reaches from Mv=-0.7 (at our photometric limit) to Mv=-6.2 and a well-populated giant region. The R, B-R diagram separates the stars rather clearly into three groups, the main sequence, intermediate-color stars (which include the brighter foreground stars), and the red giants. Reddening is found to average E(B-V)=0.13+/-0.04. To determine a reliable luminosity function, we have eliminated foreground contamination and have evaluated our sample completeness, using a large number of artificial stars in the DAOPHOT reduction routine. The corrected luminosity function, which extends from Mv=-5 to -1, has a logarithmic slope of 0.57+/-0.07 for all stars and 0.53+/-0.06 for main-sequence stars only. This value is similar to that reported for galaxies in general (Freedman 1985ApJ...299...74F and 1986, IAUS 116, 61).
Dusty high-z galaxies are extreme objects with high star formation rates (SFRs) and luminosities. Characterising the properties of this population and analysing their evolution over cosmic time is key to understanding galaxy evolution in the early Universe. We select a sample of high-z dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) and evaluate their position on the main sequence (MS) of star-forming galaxies, the well-known correlation between stellar mass and SFR. We aim to understand the causes of their high star formation and quantify the percentage of DSFGs that lie above the MS. We adopted a multi-wavelength approach with data from optical to submillimetre wavelengths from surveys at the North Ecliptic Pole (NEP) to study a submillimetre sample of high-redshift galaxies. Two submillimetre selection methods were used, including: sources selected at 850um with the Sub-millimetre Common-User Bolometer Array 2) SCUBA-2 instrument and Herschel-Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) selected sources (colour-colour diagrams and 500um risers), finding that 185 have good multi-wavelength coverage. The resulting sample of 185 high-z candidates was further studied by spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with the CIGALE fitting code. We derived photometric redshifts, stellar masses, SFRs, and additional physical parameters, such as the infrared luminosity and active galactic nuclei (AGN) contribution. We find that the Herschel-SPIRE selected DSFGs generally have higher redshifts (z=2.57^+0.08^_-0.09_) than sources that are selected solely by the SCUBA-2 method (z=1.45^+0.21^_-0.06_). We find moderate SFRs (797^+108^_-50_M_{sun}/yr}), which are typically lower than those found in other studies. We find that the different results in the literature are, only in part, due to selection effects, as even in the most extreme cases, SFRs are still lower than a few thousand solar masses per year. The difference in measured SFRs affects the position of DSFGs on the MS of galaxies; most of the DSFGs lie on the MS (60%). Finally, we find that the star formation efficiency (SFE) depends on the epoch and intensity of the star formation burst in the galaxy; the later the burst, the more intense the star formation. We discuss whether the higher SFEs in DSFGs could be due to mergers.
We present deep surface photometry of a volume-limited sample of 21 UM emission line galaxies in broadband optical UBVRI and near infra-red (NIR) HKs filters. The sample comprises 19 blue compact galaxies (BCGs) and two spirals. For some targets the exposure times are the deepest to date. For the BCG UM462 we observe a previously undetected second disk component beyond a surface brightness level of mu_B_=26mag/arcsec^2^. This is a true low surface brightness component with central surface brightness mu_0_=24.1mag/arcsec^2^ and scale length h_r_=1.5kpc. All BCGs are dwarfs, with M_B_>=-18, and very compact, with an average scale length of h_r_~1kpc. We separate the burst and host populations for each galaxy and compare them to stellar evolutionary models with and without nebular emission contribution. We also measure the A_180_ asymmetry in all filters and detect a shift from optical to NIR in the average asymmetry of the sample. This shift seems to be correlated with the morphological class of the BCGs. Using the color-asymmetry relation, we identify five BCGs in the sample as mergers, which is confirmed by their morphological class. Though clearly separated from normal galaxies in the concentration-asymmetry parameter space, we find that it is not possible to distinguish luminous starbursting BCGs from the merely star forming low luminosity BCGs.
An optical photometric observation with the Beijing-Arizona-Taipei-Connecticut multicolor system is carried out for the central region of the nearby cluster of galaxies Abell 2634. From the 2Kx2K CCD images with 14 filters, which cover a range of wavelength from 3600 to 10000{AA}, 5572 sources are detected down to V~20mag in a field of 56'x56' centered on this regular cluster of galaxies. As a result, we achieved the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of all sources detected. There are 178 previously known galaxies included in our observations, 147 of which have known radial velocities in the literature. After excluding the foreground and background galaxies, a sample of 124 known members is formed for an investigation of the SED properties. The comparison of observed SEDs of the early-type member galaxies with the template SEDs demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of our photometric measurements.
We present broadband (U, V, I, and H) and narrowband (H{alpha}+[N II] and Pa{alpha}) images of the circumnuclear starburst rings in two nearby spiral galaxies, NGC 1512 and NGC 5248, obtained with the WFPC2 and NICMOS cameras on HST. Combined with previously published ultraviolet (UV) HST images at 2300{AA} these data provide a particularly wide wavelength range with which to study the properties of the stellar populations, the gas, and the dust in the rings.
In this paper, we present photometry for young star clusters in M31, which are selected from Caldwell et al. These star clusters have been observed as part of the Beijing-Arizona-Taiwan-Connecticut (BATC) Multicolor Sky Survey from 1995 February to 2008 March. The BATC images including these star clusters are taken with 15 intermediate-band filters covering 3000-10000{AA}. Combined with photometry in the GALEX far- and near-ultraviolet, broadband UBV RI, SDSS ugriz, and infrared JHK_s_ of Two Micron All Sky Survey, we obtain their accurate spectral energy distributions (SEDs) from 1538 to 20000{AA}. We derive these star clusters' ages and masses by comparing their SEDs with stellar population synthesis models. Our results are in good agreement with previous determinations. The mean value of age and mass of young clusters (<2Gyr) is about 385Myr and 2x10^4^M_{sun}_, respectively. There are two distinct peaks in the age distribution, a highest peak at age ~60Myr and a secondary peak around 250Myr, while the mass distribution shows a single peak around 10^4^M_{sun}_. A few young star clusters have two-body relaxation times greater than their ages, indicating that those clusters have not been well dynamically relaxed and therefore have not established the thermal equilibrium. There are several regions showing aggregations of young star clusters around the 10kpc ring and the outer ring, indicating that the distribution of the young star clusters is well correlated with M31's star-forming regions. The young massive star clusters (age<=100Myr and mass>=10^4^M_{sun}_) show apparent concentration around the ring splitting region, suggesting a recent passage of a satellite galaxy (M32) through M31 disk.
We estimate the galaxy stellar mass function and stellar mass density for star-forming and quiescent galaxies with 0.2<z<4. We construct a large, deep sample of galaxies selected using the new UltraVISTA DR1 data release (Cat. J/A+A/544/A156). Our analysis is based on precise 30-band photometric redshifts. By comparing these photometric redshifts with 10800 spectroscopic redshifts from the zCOSMOS bright (Cat. J/ApJS/172/70) and faint (Lilly et al. in prep) surveys, we find an accuracy of sigma(dz/(1+z))=0.008 at i<22.5 and sigma(dz/(1+z))=0.03 at 1.5<z<4.
We describe a multicomponent matched filter (MCMF) cluster confirmation tool designed for the study of large X-ray source catalogues produced by the upcoming X-ray all-sky survey mission eROSITA. We apply the method to confirm a sample of 88 clusters with redshifts 0.05<z<0.8 in the recently published 2RXS catalogue from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey (RASS) over the 208 deg^2^ region overlapped by the Dark Energy Survey (DES) Science Verification (DES-SV) data set. In our pilot study, we examine all X-ray sources, regardless of their extent. Our method employs a multicolour red sequence (RS) algorithm that incorporates the X-ray count rate and peak position in determining the region of interest for follow-up and extracts the positionally and colour-weighted optical richness {lambda}_MCMF_ as a function of redshift for each source. Peaks in the {lambda}_MCMF_-redshift distribution are identified and used to extract photometric redshifts, richness and uncertainties. The significances of all optical counterparts are characterized using the distribution of richnesses defined along random lines of sight. These significances are used to extract cluster catalogues and to estimate the contamination by random superpositions of unassociated optical systems. The delivered photometric redshift accuracy is {delta}z/(1+z)=0.010. We find a well-defined X-ray luminosity-{lambda}_MCMF_ relation with an intrinsic scatter of {delta}ln({lambda}_MCMF_|Lx)=0.21. Matching our catalogue with the DES-SV redMaPPer catalogue yields good agreement in redshift and richness estimates; comparing our catalogue with the South Pole Telescope (SPT) selected clusters shows no inconsistencies. SPT clusters in our data set are consistent with the high-mass extension of the RASS-based {lambda}_MCMF_-mass relation.
This is the second in a series of papers presenting VLBI observations of the 293 Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-spectrum (hereafter CJF) sources and their analysis. We obtain a consistent motion dataset large enough to allow the systematic properties of the population to be studied. We present detailed kinematic analysis of the complete flux-density limited CJF survey. We computed 2-D kinematic models based on the optimal model-fitting parameters of multi-epoch VLBA observations. This allows us to calculate not only radial, but also orthogonal motions, and thus to study curvature and acceleration. Statistical tests of the motions measured and their reliability were performed. A correlation analysis between the derived apparent motions, luminosities, spectral indices, and core dominance and the resulting consequences is described. With at least one velocity in each of the 237 sources, this sample is much larger than any available before, so it allows a meaning ful statistical investigation of apparent motions and any possible correlations with other parameters in AGN jets. The main results to emerge are as follows: * In general motions are not consistent with a single uniform velocity applicable to all components along a jet. * We find a slight trend towards a positive outward acceleration and also adduce some evidence for greater acceleration in the innermost regions. * We find a lack of fast components at physical distances less than a few pc from the reference feature. * Only ~4% of the components from galaxies and <2% of those from quasars undergo large bends i.e. within 15{deg} of +/-90{deg}. * The distribution of radial velocities shows a broad distribution of velocities (apparent velocities up to 30c). Fifteen percent of the best-sampled jet components exhibit low velocities that may need to be explained in a different manner to the fast motions. * Some negative superluminal motions are seen, and in 15 cases (6%) these are definitely significant. * We find a strong correlation between the 5 GHz luminosity and the apparent velocity. * The CJF galaxies, on average, show slower apparent jet-component velocities than the quasars. * The mean velocity in the VLBA 2cm survey (Kellermann et al. 2004) is substantially higher than in the CJF survey, the ratio could be roughly a factor of 1.5-2. This supports the observed trend toward increasing apparent velocity with in creasing observing frequency. This AGN survey provides the basis for any statistical analysis of jet and jet-component properties.
We present the first Catalog of Low Ionization Emission Line Galaxies (LINERs or Liners, which is the simplest name, and which we shall adopt in what follows). The Catalog "MCL" (Multifrequency Catalog of Liners), contains 476 entries and contains both broad-band and monochromatic emission data (ranging from radio to X-ray frequencies) of colors, and other data compiled from the literature and various data bases, as indicated in the references. Most of the galaxies can be considered "pure" Liners on the basis of the Veilleux & Osterbrock (1987ApJS...63..295V) classification as suggested by Ho, Filippenko, & Sargent (1997ApJS..112..315H). However, a considerable number of transition (Liners-H II or Liners-Starburst) objects are also included. One of the open questions, is whether Liners should be considered as a class of galaxies (like Seyfert galaxies for instance) or rather, as an heterogeneous group of objects. We believe the study of Liners as a group is very interesting, precisely because they very likely represent a transition between non-thermal and starburst activity, and probably also between "active" and "non- active" galaxies. This catalog may be used as a basis for statistical research. A preliminary discussion of the main statistical properties of Liners, in the range from radio to X-ray frequencies, is given here.
