Issue |
A&A
Volume 519, September 2010
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A59 | |
Number of page(s) | 3 | |
Section | Extragalactic astronomy | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201014429 | |
Published online | 14 September 2010 |
Research Note
The mid-UV population of the nucleus and the bulk of the post-merger NGC 3610
INAF Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, vicolo
dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy e-mail: lucio.buson@oapd.inaf.it
Received:
15
March
2010
Accepted:
3
August
2010
Context. The very center (r ≪ re) of NGC 3610, a clearly disturbed giant elliptical that is generally assumed to be a post-merger remnant, appears dominated in the mid-UV (2500–3200 Å spectral region) by a stellar population that is markedly different from that dominating the bulk of its stellar body.
Aims. We make use of the mid-UV spectra of NGC 3610 as seen through tiny (~1'') and large (10'' × 20'') apertures as a diagnostic population tool.
Methods. We compare archive IUE/LWP large aperture and HST/FOS UV data of NGC 3610.
Results. The strength of mid-UV triplet (dominated by the turnoff population) shows a remarkable drop when switching from the galaxy central arcsec (FOS aperture) to an aperture size comparable to ~0.5 re (IUE).
Conclusions. The sub-arsec (mid)-UV properties of this galaxy involved in a past merger reveal a central metal enrichment which left the bulk of its pre-existing population intact.
Key words: galaxies: general / galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD / galaxies: individual: NGC 3610 / galaxies: interactions
© ESO, 2010
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