Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xfwgj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-26T03:27:35.290Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Tidally-induced Super Star Clusters in M82

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2017

R. de Grijs
Affiliation:
Institute of Astronomy, Univ. of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
R.W O'Connell
Affiliation:
Astronomy Dept., Univ. of Virginia, P.O. Box 3818, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
J.S. Gallagher III
Affiliation:
Astronomy Dept., Univ. of Wisconsin, 475 N. Charter Str., Madison, WI 53706, USA

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Using new HST imaging, we identify a large, evolved system of super star clusters in a disk region just outside the starburst core in the prototypical starburst galaxy M82, “M82 B.” This region has been suspected to be a fossil starburst site in which an intense episode of star formation occurred over 100 Myr ago, which is now confirmed by our derived age distribution. It suggests steady, continuing cluster formation at a modest rate at early times (> 2 Gyr ago), followed by a concentrated formation episode ∼ 600 Myr ago and more recent suppression of cluster formation. The peak episode coincides with independent dynamical estimates for the last tidal encounter with M81.

Type
Part 3. Super Star Clusters and Associations
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2002 

References

de Grijs, R., O'Connell, R.W., Gallagher, J.S., 2001, AJ, 121, 768 Google Scholar
Marcum, P., O'Connell, R.W. 1996, in: From Stars to Galaxies: The Impact of Stellar Physics on Galaxy Evolution, eds. Leitherer, C., Fritze-von Alvensleben, U., Huchra, J., San Francisco: ASP, p. 419 Google Scholar
O'Connell, R.W., Gallagher, J.S., Hunter, D.A. 1994, ApJ, 433, 65 Google Scholar
O'Connell, R.W., Gallagher, J.S., Hunter, D.A., Colley, W.N. 1995, ApJ, 446, L1 Google Scholar
Telesco, C.M. 1988, ARA&A 26, 343 Google Scholar