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M. H. Siegel (University of Texas), S. R. Majewski (University of Virginia)
We present the results of an extensive survey of giant stars in the Leo II dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy. We have used wide-field Washington photometry to identify giant stars in Leo II and the surrounding four square degrees from two-color diagrams. While the galaxy does not show the massive extended structure seen in other dSph galaxies, it show similar but smaller scale departures from the canonical single-mass King profile - a very faint curtain of potential Leo II giant stars across the field. MMT hectoechelle spectra confirm that the innermost stars are members of Leo II. However, even if the outlying stars are members of Leo II, the galaxy would still have either a smaller dark matter halo than the other dSph galaxies or have undergone little tidal disruption. Future observations to obtain ~ 1 km/s radial velocities will provide better insight into the internal dynamics of this fascinating system.
This research was supported by NSF grant AST 0306884.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #4
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.