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R. Chandar, L. Bianchi (CAS, JHU), M. Romaniello (ESO)
We present results from VLT (ESO Very Large Telescope) optical spectroscopy of compact star clusters in the Local Group dwarf (Magellanic) irregular galaxy NGC 6822. The objects were selected from both HST-WFPC2 multiband (near-UV, U, B, V) imaging, as well as from previous ground based surveys. Age and metallicity for these clusters are derived by comparing spectroscopic line indices with various models (e.g., Worthey 1994; Bica & Alloin 1985a,b). This work represents the largest number of age/metallicity measurements of star clusters from optical spectroscopy in NGC 6822 to date. Results are compared with those for clusters in both the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds.
This study is part of an on-going program to investigate the star formation history and the stellar properties of Local Group galaxies, both by characterizing their stellar populations and by investigating the properties of their stellar clusters systems. For updates see also http://dolomiti.pha.jhu.edu