The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society (천문학회보)
- Volume 46 Issue 1
- /
- Pages.34.3-34.3
- /
- 2021
- /
- 1226-2692(pISSN)
Messier 3: An Extra-Galactic System with Two Globular Clusters
- Lee, Jae-Woo (Department of Physics and Astronomy, Sejong University) ;
- Sneden, Christopher (Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin)
- Published : 2021.04.13
Abstract
We present Ca-CN-CH-NH photometry for the globular cluster (GC) M3. Our new photometric system combined with robust and self-consistent theoretical fine model grids allows us to measure key elements in stellar populations, [Fe/H], [C/Fe], and [N/Fe], even in the extremely crowded fields. Our results show that M3 consists of two GCs with different chemical abundances, structural and kinematical properties. Furthermore, each GC has its own carbon-nitrogen anticorrelation with whose fractions of the CN-weak populations are consistent with those in the Magellanic Clouds. We suggest that M3 is a merger remnant of two GCs, most likely in a dwarf galaxy environment and accreted to our Milky Way Galaxy later in time.
Keywords