Globular Clusters in Galaxies beyond the Local Group. VIII. Elliptical Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster

The existence of globular cluster populations associated with five of the elliptical galaxies in the Fornax Cluster has been confirmed. The dominant central elliptical, NGC 1399, is relatively overabundant in globular clusters; its specific frequency is roughly 17, while the average specific frequency is roughly 5 for three of the other more normal elliptical galaxies in the cluster. This finding confirms an effect previously noted in the Virgo Cluster and the Hydra Cluster. Moreover, the NGC 1399 globular cluster system structurally resembles that in M87, the dominant central giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. Such galaxies seem to be preferred locations for the formation of large globular cluster systems.