Distant Compact Narrow Emission Line Galaxies as Progenitors of Today's Spheroidal Galaxies
Abstract
We present kinematic line-widths (from Keck echelle spectra) and half-light sizes (from HST WFPC2 images) of a sample of field and cluster galaxies selected from prior ground-based, 4-m or 5-m observations to be at moderate redshift (z ~0.1 to 1), very blue, LUMINOUS (about L^*), compact (subarcsec), and to have strong emission lines. These new data reveal sizes of only a few kpc and velocity widths less than 70 km s^{-1}. Regardless of their subsequent history of fading, the intrinsic size vs velocity width relationship of this subset suggests that we may be observing, in situ, the final and very intense starburst phase of the likely progenitors of today's bright spheroidal galaxies, such as NGC 205.
- Publication:
-
IAU Joint Discussion
- Pub Date:
- 1997
- Bibcode:
- 1997IAUJD...2E..24K