Star Formation in the Perseus Cluster Cooling Flow

We propose to obtain high resolution, UV/optical imaging ofthe "accretion populations" in the massive cooling flow of the Perseuscluster of galaxies. New GALEX observations show that the dominantgalaxy in this nearby cluster, NGC 1275, has an extended network ofUV-bright populations apparently formed recently from the intraclustergas. Cluster cooling flows are the most prominent of the environmentswhere we can readily observe the cycle of gas accretion, starformation, and feedback from active nuclei that is thought to play acentral role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. Because theycan be readily age-dated, the accretion populations help to trace thesequence of exchange of material between galaxies and the intraclustermedium. The ACS/SBC and WFPC2/PC cameras offer the highest spatialresolution and best panchromatic performance available to map thespatial and age distribution of the accretion populations and theirrelationship to radio-emitting plasma and the hot intracluster gas.