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[122.07] Super Star Clusters and their Association with the Radio and Optical Tidal Tails of Interacting Galaxies

J.R. Masiero, J.C. Charlton (PSU), J.E. Hibbard (NRAO), C. Palma (PSU), K.A. Knierman (U of Arizona)

The tidal tails of colliding galaxies are prime breeding grounds for huge star clusters. However, these Super Star Clusters (SSCs) are prevalent in some optical tidal tails, while being completely absent in others. We have analyzed VLA and HST/WFPC2 images of the tidal tails of colliding galaxy pairs, including the Antennae galaxies (NGC4038/4039), NGC7252, and NGC3921. We performed a correlation analysis between the point sources in the optical tidal debris and the large scale distribution of HI. Such a comparison provides constraints on whether SSCs form in large gas concentrations or whether they are local phenomena unrelated to the total mass distribution.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: masiero@astro.psu.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35#5
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.