Deep Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Blue Star Clusters in NGC 3597

April 1999 • 1999AJ....117.1700C

Authors • Carlson, Matthew N. • Holtzman, Jon A. • Grillmair, Carl J. • Mould, Jeremy R. • Griffiths, Richard E. • Ballester, Gilda E. • Burrows, Christopher J. • Clarke, John T. • Crisp, David • Evans, Robin W. • Gallagher, John S., III • Hester, J. Jeff • Hoessel, John G. • Scowen, Paul A. • Stapelfeldt, Karl R. • Trauger, John T. • Watson, Alan M. • Westphal, James A.

Abstract • We have analyzed HST/WFPC2 images of NGC 3597 and find ~700 compact objects surrounding the galaxy with an average (B-R)_0~0.6. We propose that the majority of these objects are young globular clusters. They have a spread in colors that is consistent with that expected for a population of young clusters with a common age and spread induced by photometric errors and reddening within NGC 3597. If these objects were similar to the Galactic globular cluster system seen at a younger age, we would predict a turnover in the luminosity function at B~23. However, we find that the luminosity function for the clusters is increasing to the limits of our photometry (B~27).

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Carl Grillmair

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