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T. K. Wyder (Caltech), GALEX Science Team
Star formation in the local universe occurs in a wide variety of environments with varying metallicities and densities. In order to explore star formation in galaxies at low densities and metallicities, we present the first results of ultraviolet (UV) imaging of nearby low-metallicity dwarf irregular and low surface brightness galaxies observed by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). In this paper, we focus on some results for the Local Group dwarf galaxies WLM, IC 1613, and Sextans A. We present total star formation rates, FIR to UV ratios as well as UV to H-alpha ratios. In addition to these nearby dwarf galaxies, we have begun to investigate star formation in optically selected low surface brightness galaxies. In particular, we focus on GALEX UV imaging of the Impey et al. (1996, ApJS, 105, 209) catalog of nearby low surface brightness galaxies. We present UV fluxes and radial profiles as well as UV to optical radial color profiles for those galaxies with imaging from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and discuss what these measurements imply about the star formation rates and star formation histories of these galaxies.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: wyder@srl.caltech.edu
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 5
© 2004. The American Astronomical Society.