The mid-UV population of the nucleus and the bulk of the post-merger NGC 3610
Abstract
Context. The very center (r ≪ re) of NGC 3610, a clearly disturbed giant elliptical that is generally assumed to be a post-merger remnant, appears dominated in the mid-UV (2500-3200 Å spectral region) by a stellar population that is markedly different from that dominating the bulk of its stellar body.
Aims: We make use of the mid-UV spectra of NGC 3610 as seen through tiny (~1'') and large (10'' × 20'') apertures as a diagnostic population tool.
Methods: We compare archive IUE/LWP large aperture and HST/FOS UV data of NGC 3610.
Results: The strength of mid-UV triplet (dominated by the turnoff population) shows a remarkable drop when switching from the galaxy central arcsec (FOS aperture) to an aperture size comparable to ~0.5 re (IUE).
Conclusions: The sub-arsec (mid)-UV properties of this galaxy involved in a past merger reveal a central metal enrichment which left the bulk of its pre-existing population intact.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201014429
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1008.0922
- Bibcode:
- 2010A&A...519A..59B
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: general;
- galaxies: elliptical and lenticular;
- cD;
- galaxies: individual: NGC 3610;
- galaxies: interactions;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in astronomy and Astrophysics