Globular Clusters in Galaxies Beyond the Local Group. IX. More on the Fornax Ellipticals

For four of the brightest elliptical galaxies in the Fornax cluster, the authors compare the spatial distribution of their globular cluster systems with the underlying halo light distributions. In NGC 1374, 1379, and 1387, no persuasive evidence is found that the cluster systems differ strongly in radial extent from the galaxy light itself. For the central giant NGC 1399, in which the best cluster data exist, it is found that the globular cluster distribution follows the halo surface-brightness profile remarkably well. In this respect, NGC 1399 is unlike the dominant Virgo ellipticals M49 and M87, where the cluster systems are more extended than the halo light; instead, it is more nearly similar to NGC 3311, the central giant elliptical in the Hydra cluster. The case of NGC 1399 further reinforces the special status of the central giant ellipticals in large clusters of galaxies.