Another look at the size of the low-surface brightness galaxy VCC 1661 in the Virgo Cluster

Koch, Andreas and Black, Christine S. and Rich, R. Michael and Longstaff, Francis A. and Collins, Michelle L. M. and Janz, Joachim (2017) Another look at the size of the low-surface brightness galaxy VCC 1661 in the Virgo Cluster. Astronomical Notes / Astronomische Nachrichten, 338 (4). pp. 503-509. ISSN 0004-6337

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Abstract

We present new wide-field images of the low-surface brightness Virgo Cluster dwarf galaxy VCC 1661. The extant literature lists a broad range of radii for this object, covering a factor of more than four, depending on the filters used and the details of the analyses. While some studies find a radius typical of other Virgo dwarfs and note the normality of this object, any larger spatial extent, taken at face value, would render this galaxy the largest dwarf in the Virgo Cluster samples. Confirmation of a large extent of dwarf galaxies has often led to the discovery of tidal tails and would then, also in VCC 1661, indicate a severe state of tidal disruption. Given the importance of galactic sizes for assessing tidal interactions of the satellites with their hosts, we thus combine our surface brightness profile with data from the literature to investigate further the nature of this galaxy. However, our new characteristic radius for VCC 1661 of re = 24.1′′ ± 7.7 ′′ and the previously noted smooth appearance of its isophotes are fully consistent with the remainder of the ACSVCS dwarf galaxy population without any need to invoke tidal perturbations.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Astronomical Notes / Astronomische Nachrichten
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Koch A, Black CS, Rich RM, Longstaff FA, Collins MLM, Janz J. Another look at the size of the low-surface-brightness galaxy VCC 1661 in the Virgo Cluster. Astron. Nachr. / AN. 2017;338:503–509. https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.201613274 which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/asna.201613274/abstract This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100/3103
Subjects:
?? astronomy and astrophysicsspace and planetary science ??
ID Code:
82089
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
21 Mar 2017 16:14
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Mar 2024 00:48