Bibcode
Müller, O.; Rich, R. Michael; Román, Javier; Yıldız, Mustafa K.; Bílek, Michal; Duc, Pierre-Alain; Fensch, Jérémy; Trujillo, Ignacio; Koch, Andreas
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 624, id.L6, 5 pp.
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4
2019
Journal
Citations
35
Refereed citations
33
Description
The possible existence of two dark-matter-free galaxies (NGC 1052-DF2
and NGC 1052-DF4) in the field of the early-type galaxy NGC 1052
presents a challenge to theories of dwarf galaxy formation according to
the current cosmological paradigm. We carried out a search for
signatures of past interactions connected to the putative hosts of NGC
1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4 using a very deep L-band image obtained with
the 0.7 m Jeanne Rich telescope that reach a surface brightness limit of
28.5 mag arcsec-2 in the r band. We found several low-surface
brightness features, possibly consistent with an ongoing merger history
in this group. We find a tidal interaction between NGC 1052 and NGC
1047, confirming a physical association. Furthermore, we find a stellar
loop around NGC 1052 in the direction of NGC 1042 and a stellar stream
pointing in the direction of NGC 1052-DF2, but they are not directly
connected. We find no evidence for a recent tidal interaction for NGC
1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4. No LSB features have been uncovered around
the spiral galaxy NGC 1042, which leaves the association (physical or
projected) between NGC 1052 and NGC 1042 ambiguous, although they have
similar radial velocities. Their association will only be established
when accurate distances to both objects have been measured.
Related projects
Traces of Galaxy Formation: Stellar populations, Dynamics and Morphology
We are a large, diverse, and very active research group aiming to provide a comprehensive picture for the formation of galaxies in the Universe. Rooted in detailed stellar population analysis, we are constantly exploring and developing new tools and ideas to understand how galaxies came to be what we now observe.
Ignacio
Martín Navarro