| Type |
Conference Paper |
| Names |
Angela Adamo, J. S. Gallagher, L. Smith, M. Westmoquette, I. S. Konstantopoulos, N. Bastian, J. E. Ryon, E. Zackrisson, S. S. Larsen, J. Charlton, D. Weisz |
| Proceedings Title |
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society |
| Conference Name |
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #438.03 |
| Volume |
219 |
| Date |
January 1, 2012 |
| Short Title |
NGC 2146 |
| URL |
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012AAS...21943803A |
| Library Catalog |
NASA ADS |
| Abstract |
As part of the Snapshot Hubble U-band Cluster Survey (SHUCS), we present
the first complete study of the star cluster population in NGC 2146. NGC
2146 is a spectacular nearby starburst galaxy, which has experienced a
recent merger event. The high-resolution cameras onboard the Hubble
Space Telescope have produced a superb imaging dataset for this galaxy.
The tidal streams and some starburst regions in the edge-on disk are
already visible in the ultra-violet and B bands. However, only the
longer wavelengths, such as R, I, and the near-infrared bands, can
penetrate the dust screen and reveal the complexity of the starburst
operating in the central regions. Several hundreds of star clusters have
been detected. We have performed a detailed analysis of the spectral
energy distributions of the clusters to constrain age, mass, and
extinction of the entire population. These properties are used to map
the starburst propagation in the galaxy and to understand how diverse
galactic environments affect cluster formation. The most massive
clusters are observed in the central starburst region, likely produced
by the gas compression during the merging phase. In the tidal stream,
where the extinction is low, star and cluster formation has happened in
a less dense environment. The presence of numerous HII regions and
clusters with ages of a few tens of Myr proves that star formation in
the tidal stream has recently taken place. Several cluster complexes
have been found in the disk, with age spreads not larger than 10 Myr.
The cluster complexes in the disk differ from those in the stream in
that they are more compact and probably formed in a single starburst
episode. Finally, we observe several globular clusters located in the
galactic halo.
Research based on observations obtained with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space
Telescope through program IDs 12229 and 12206. |