[Previous] | [Session 10] | [Next]
C. T. Rodgers, J. A. Smith (University of Wyoming), D. L. Tucker, E. H. Neilsen, C. Stoughton (FNAL)
We have undertaken a study of the enigmatic southern hemisphere globular star cluster \omega Centauri in the new Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) u'g'r'i'z' filter system [Fukugita~et al. 1996, AJ, 111, 1748]. These data represent the first observations of this cluster in this filter set. We interpret the observational data using synthetic results from Lenz~et al. [1998, ApJSS, 119, 121] and new stellar isochrones developed by Girardi [astro-ph/0108198]. First results of this effort are presented here. Future studies will be done to compare \omega Cen with other globular clusters of known age and metallicity. The results from this study may help to answer some of the perplexing issues connected with this, and similar, large globular clusters, particularly the question of globular cluster -vs.- disrupted dwarf galaxy [Lee~et al. 2002, ASP Conf. Series, Vol. 265 (in prep.)]. Ultimately, understanding these large star clusters may yield new insight into the galactic formation processes [Ibata, Gilmore, & Irwin 1994, Nature, 370, 194]. We acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation (AST-0098401).
[Previous] | [Session 10] | [Next]
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.