The Evolved Red Stellar Content of M32

Near-infrared images obtained with the CFHT AOB are used to investigate thestellar content of the Local Group elliptical galaxy M32. Observations of afield 2.3 arcmin from the galaxy center reveal a large population of AGB stars,and comparisons with models indicate that these objects have an age log(t_Gyr)< 9.3. It is concluded that intermediate age stars account for roughly 25% ofthe total K light and 10% +/- 5% of the mass in this field. The K LF of bright sources between 20 and 30 arcsec from the nucleus is wellmatched by the LF of the outer regions of the galaxy after accounting fordifferences in surface brightness and correcting for crowding. It is concludedthat the relative size of the intermediate age component with respect to otherpopulations does not change with radius over most of the galaxy. However, theintegrated J-K color and 2.3 micron CO index change with radius within a fewtenths of an arcsec of the galaxy center indicating that, contrary to whatmight be inferred from observations at visible wavelengths, the integratedphotometric properties of the central regions of M32 differ from those of thesurrounding galaxy.Comment: 18 pages, 9 postscript figures, to appear in the PAS