Bibcode
DOI
Piotto, G.; Bedin, L. R.; Anderson, J.; King, I. R.; Cassisi, S.; Milone, A. P.; Villanova, S.; Pietrinferni, A.; Renzini, A.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 661, Issue 1, pp. L53-L56.
Advertised on:
5
2007
Journal
Citations
648
Refereed citations
536
Description
Accurate photometry with HST's ACS shows that the main sequence (MS) of
the globular cluster NGC 2808 splits into three separate branches. The
three MS branches may be associated with the complexities of the
cluster's horizontal branch and of its abundance distribution. We
attribute the MS branches to successive rounds of star formation, with
different helium abundances; we discuss possible sources of helium
enrichment. Some other massive globulars also appear to have complex
populations; we compare them with NGC 2808.
Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained
at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA,
Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.