SDSS J103913.70+533029.7: A Super star cluster in the outskirts of a galaxy merger

Gillian R. Knapp, Christy A. Tremonti, Constance M. Rockosi, David J. Schlegel, Brian Yanny, Timothy C. Beers, Carlos Allende Prieto, Ron Wilhelm, Robert H. Lupton, James E. Gunn, Martin Niederste-Ostholt, Donald P. Schneider, Kevin Covey, Anil Seth, Željko Ivezić, Daniel J. Eisenstein, Joe Helmboldt, Douglas P. Finkbeiner, Nikhil Padmanabhan, Scot J. KleinmanDan Long, Stephanie A. Snedden, Atsuko Nitta, Michael Harvanek, Jurek Krzesinski, Howard J. Brewington, John C. Barentine, Peter R. Newman, Eric H. Nielsen, Masataka Fukugita, J. Brinkmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

We describe the serendipitous discovery in the spectroscopic data of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey of a starlike object, SDSS J103913.70+533029.7, at a heliocentric radial velocity of +1012 km s -1. Its proximity in position and velocity to the spiral galaxy NGC 3310 suggests an association with the galaxy. At this distance, SDSS J103913.70+533029.7 has the luminosity of a super star cluster and a projected distance of 17 kpc from NGC 3310. Its spectroscopic and photometric properties imply a mass of > 10 6 M⊙ and an age close to that of the tidal shells seen around NGC 3310, suggesting that it formed in the event that formed the shells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)859-865
Number of pages7
JournalAstronomical Journal
Volume131
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Galaxies: formation
  • Galaxies: individual (NGC 3310)
  • Galaxies: star clusters
  • Galaxies: starburst

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'SDSS J103913.70+533029.7: A Super star cluster in the outskirts of a galaxy merger'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this