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On the Radial Velocity Distribution of the Carina dSph galaxy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2011

M. Fabrizio*
Affiliation:
Univ. ToV, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
M. Nonino
Affiliation:
INAF–OAT, via G.B. Tiepolo 11, 40131 Trieste, Italy
P.B. Stetson
Affiliation:
DAO–HIA, NRC, 5071 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2E7, Canada
G. Bono
Affiliation:
Univ. ToV, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy INAF–OAR, via Frascati 33, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
R. Buonanno
Affiliation:
Univ. ToV, via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy ASI–Science Data Center, ASDC c/o ESRIN, via G. Galilei, 00044 Frascati, Italy
G. Iannicola
Affiliation:
INAF–OAR, via Frascati 33, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
M. Monelli
Affiliation:
IAC, Calle via Lactea, 38200 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
A. Walker
Affiliation:
NOAO–CTIO, Casilla 603, La Serena, Chile
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Abstract

We present the radial velocity (RV) distribution of Carina dSph, obtained using low-, medium- and high-resolution spectroscopic data collected with FORS2 and GIRAFFE at the VLT. We found that regions where the mean RV is smaller the dispersion is also smaller, and the RV distribution is sharper (i.e. the kurtosis attains larger values). The mean RV, when moving to lower Galactic latitude, decreases by ∼ 5kms−1, attains a well defined minimum outside the galaxy center, and a constant value at larger distances. The RV gradient appears to be in the direction of the Carina proper motion. However, this parameter is affected by large uncertainties to reach a firm conclusion. These findings are probably reminiscent of a substructure with transition properties, already detected in dwarf ellipticals, and call for independent confirmations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© EAS, EDP Sciences, 2011

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References

Fabrizio, M., et al., 2010, PASP, submitted
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