A New Member of the Local Group: The Tucana Dwarf Galaxy

We present observations of the recently discovered dwarf galaxy in Tucana, which is a likely member of the Local Group. The system is highly flattened and we classify it as dE5. An upper limit on the distance modulus of 24.75 is determined from a V, V- I color-magnitude diagram. This galaxy has a B - R color of 1.1, and with the upper limit to the distance modulus, an absolute R magnitude of - 10. This apparently isolated dwarf system, being on the opposite side of the Milky Way from most of the Local Group, may provide important constraints on Local Group dynamics.