Open AccessWFPC2 Observations of NGC 454: An Interacting Pair of Galaxies
Author(s) -
M. Stiavelli,
N. Panagia,
C. Marcella Carollo,
M. Romaniello,
I. Heyer,
S. Gonzaga
Publication year - 1998
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 - 10.1086/311115
Subject(s) - physics , astrophysics , galaxy , stars , hubble sequence , supernova , astronomy , population , star formation , stellar population , stellar evolution , peculiar galaxy , line (geometry) , component (thermodynamics) , elliptical galaxy , surface brightness fluctuation , emission spectrum , spiral galaxy , metallicity , bulge , interstellar medium
We present WFPC2 images in the F450W, F606W and F814W filters of theinteracting pair of galaxies NGC 454. Our data indicate that the system is inthe early stages of interaction. A population of young star-clusters has formedaround the late component, and substantial amounts of gas have sunk into thecenter of the earlier component, where it has not yet produced significantvisible star formation or nuclear activity. We have photometric evidence thatthe star-clusters have strong line emission, which indicate the presence of asubstantial component of hot, massive stars which formed less than 5-10 Myrsago.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, Latex (AAS macros), ApJL in pres
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