Cited by 135Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstrophysics and Star Formation Studies

The Recent Star Formation Histories of M81 Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxies

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Weisz, Daniel R., Skillman, Evan D., Cannon, John M., Dolphin, Andrew E., Kennicutt, Jr., Robert C., Lee, Janice, Walter, Fabian·2008·The Astrophysical Journal

Abstract

We present observations and analysis of nine dwarf irregular galaxies (dIs) in the M81 Group taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard the Hubble Space Telescope . The nine galaxies (the Garland, M81 Dwarf A, DDO 53, Ho IX, Ho I, DDO 165, NGC 2366, Ho II, and IC 2574) span 6 mag in luminosity, a factor of 1000 in current star formation rate, and 0.5 dex in metallicity. We use color-magnitude diagrams of resolved stellar populations to study the star formation histories (SFHs) of these galaxies. Dividing the sample at M B = − 15, we analyze the similarities and differences in the SFHs, birthrate parameters ( b ), fraction of stars formed per time interval ( f ), and spatial distribution of stellar components. As function of luminosity, we find only minor differences in SF characteristics among the M81 Group dIs despite a wide range of physical properties. We extend our comparison to select dIs in the Local Group (LG) and, again, find little variation in SF parameters. Our average f parameters are consistent with a constant SFH; however, individual galaxies can show significant departures from this. We find this result underlines the importance of stochastic SF in dIs. We also compare possible formation scenarios of the fainter and candidate tidal dwarfs (TDGs) in the M81 Group. The SFHs and the spatial distribution of associated red stars suggest that the Garland and Ho IX are not dIs and are potentially TDGs. A noteworthy difference between the LG and the M81 Group is the lack of TDGs in the LG.

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  1. [13]13. Ford, H. C., et al. 1998, Proc. SPIE, 3356, 234
  2. [17]17. Gnedin, O. Y. 1999, Ph.D. thesis, Princeton Univ.
  3. [28]28. Kennicutt, R. C., Lee, J. C., Akiyama, S., Funes, J., & Sakai, S. 2008, ApJS, in press Kennicutt, R. C., Jr., et al. 2003, PASP, 115, 928
  4. [31]31. Lee, J. C. 2006, Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Arizona
  5. [51]51. Skillman, E. D. 1996, in ASP Conf. Ser. 106, The Minnesota Lectures on Extra- galactic Neutral Hydrogen, ed. E. D. Skillman (San Francisco: ASP), 208

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Authors
Weisz, D. R., Skillman, E. D., Cannon, J. M., Dolphin, A. E., Kennicutt, Jr., Lee, J., & Walter, F.
Affiliations
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • Macalester College (US)
  • RTX (United States) (US)
  • Carnegie Institution for Science (US)
  • Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (DE)
Venue
The Astrophysical Journal
Published
2008-12-10
Volume
689
Issue
1
Pages
160-183
ISSN
  • 0004-637X (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-4357
OpenAlex
W2048999936
Cited by
135
References
74
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 17
FWCI
9.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Astrophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Keywords
dwarf irregular galaxies, M81 group, star formation history, tidal dwarf galaxies, resolved stellar populations, color-magnitude diagram, stochastic star formation, NGC 2366, IC 2574

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