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J. Bright (Mesa State College), K. Olsen (CTIO)
We present results from a study to identify the globular cluster systems of the seven brightest galaxies of the Sculptor Group: NGC 24, NGC 45, NGC 55, NGC 247, NGC 253, NGC 300, and NGC 7793. Our observations were made with the CTIO 4-m telescope, Mosaic II camera, and CMR filter set. The 30\arcmin field of Mosaic II captures the entire expected extent of the globular cluster systems of these galaxies in a single pointing of the telescope. We identify the cluster candidates through their morphology and C-R and M-R color. Selecting objects by isophotal area, isophotal flux, ellipticity, C-R, and M-R, we find 100-150 objects per galaxy with properties similar to known globular clusters in NGC 253. We estimate that half of these objects are true clusters, while the other half are contaminating background galaxies. With spectroscopic follow-up, these cluster candidates will provide important information for understanding the formation of globular clusters in small galaxies like the LMC and M33.
This research was carried out as part of the 2000 Research Experience for Undergraduates Program at CTIO, funded by the National Science Foundation.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: brightjd@hotmail.com