The Spiderweb Galaxy: A Forming Massive Cluster Galaxy at z ~ 2 | Zendy

G. K. Miley | Zendy; Roderik Overzier | Zendy; A. Zirm | Zendy; H. C. Ford | Zendy; J. Kurk | Zendy; L. Pentericci | Zendy; John P. Blakeslee | Zendy; Marijn Franx | Zendy; G. D. Illingworth | Zendy; Marc Postman | Zendy; P. Rosati | Zendy; H. J. A. Röttgering | Zendy; Bram Venemans | Zendy; E. A. Helder | Zendy

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The Spiderweb Galaxy: A Forming Massive Cluster Galaxy at z ~ 2

Author(s) -

G. K. Miley,

Roderik Overzier,

A. Zirm,

H. C. Ford,

J. Kurk,

L. Pentericci,

John P. Blakeslee,

Marijn Franx,

G. D. Illingworth,

Marc Postman,

P. Rosati,

H. J. A. Röttgering,

Bram Venemans,

E. A. Helder

Publication year - 2006

Publication title -

the astrophysical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376

H-Index - 489

eISSN - 1538-4357

pISSN - 0004-637X

DOI - 10.1086/508534

Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , brightest cluster galaxy , interacting galaxy , astronomy , galaxy cluster , satellite galaxy , galaxy merger , galaxy , lenticular galaxy , type cd galaxy , elliptical galaxy , galaxy formation and evolution

We present a deep image of the radio galaxy MRC 1138-262 taken with theHubble Space Telescope (HST) at a redshift of z = 2.2. The galaxy is known tohave properties of a cD galaxy progenitor and be surrounded by a 3 Mpc-sizedstructure, identified with a protocluster. The morphology shown on the new deepHST/ACS image is reminiscent of a spider's web. More than 10 individual clumpyfeatures are observed, apparently star-forming satellite galaxies in theprocess of merging with the progenitor of a dominant cluster galaxy 11 Gyr ago.There is an extended emission component, implying that star formation wasoccurring over a 50 times 40 kpc region at a rate of more than 100 M_sun/yr. Astriking feature of the newly named ``Spiderweb galaxy'' is the presence ofseveral faint linear galaxies within the merging structure. The denseenvironments and fast galaxy motions at the centres of protoclusters maystimulate the formation of these structures, which dominate the faint resolvedgalaxy populations in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The new image provides aunique testbed for simulations of forming dominant cluster galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures (reduced to grayscale); ApJ Letter

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