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Cited by 533Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, PhenomenaStellar, planetary, and galactic studiesCosmology and Gravitation Theories

Distances and metallicities for 17 Local Group galaxies

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McConnachie, A. W., Irwin, M. J., Ferguson, A. M. N., Ibata, R. A., Lewis, G. F., Tanvir, N.·2005·Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08514.x
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Abstract

We have obtained Johnson V and Gunn i photometry for a large number of Local Group galaxies using the Isaac Newton Telescope Wide Field Camera (INT WFC). The majority of these galaxies are members of the M31 subgroup and the observations are deep enough to study the top few magnitudes of the red giant branch in each system. We previously measured the location of the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) for Andromeda I, Andromeda II and M33 to within systematic uncertainties of typically <0.05 mag. As the TRGB acts as a standard candle in old, metal-poor stellar populations, we were able to derive distances to each of these galaxies. Here we derive TRGB distances to the giant spiral galaxy M31 and 13 additional dwarf galaxies – NGC 205, 185, 147, Pegasus, WLM, LGS3, Cetus, Aquarius, And III, V, VI, VII and the newly discovered dwarf spheroidal And IX. The observations for each of the dwarf galaxies were intentionally taken in photometric conditions. In addition to the distances, we also self-consistently derive the median metallicity of each system from the colour of their red giant branches. This allows us to take into account the small metallicity variation of the absolute I magnitude of the TRGB. The homogeneous nature of our data and the identical analysis applied to each of the 17 Local Group galaxies ensures that these estimates form a reliable set of distance and metallicity determinations that are ideal for comparative studies of Local Group galaxy properties.

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  1. [40]40. Irwin M. et al., 2004, in Quinn P. J., Bridger A., eds, Proc. SPIE Vol. 5493, Optimizing Scientific Return for Astronomy through Information Tech- nologies. SPIE, Bellingham, WA, p. 411
  2. [50]50. Lasker B. M., Postman M., 1993, in ASP Conf. Ser. Vol. 43, Sky Surveys. Protostars to Protogalaxies. Astron Soc. Pac., San Francisco, p. 131
  3. [70]70. Reid N., Djorgovski S., 1993, in ASP Conf. Ser. Vol. 43, Sky Surveys. Protostars to Protogalaxies. Astron Soc. Pac., San Francisco, p. 125

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Authors
McConnachie, A. W., Irwin, M. J., Ferguson, A. M. N., Ibata, R. A., Lewis, G. F., & Tanvir, N.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics (DE)
  • Observatoire astronomique de Strasbourg (FR)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • University of Hertfordshire (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2005-01
Volume
356
Issue
3
Pages
979-997
ISSN
  • 0035-8711 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2966
DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08514.x
OpenAlex
W2153117529
Cited by
533
References
96
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 42
FWCI
20.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (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 › Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Keywords
Local Group galaxies, tip of the red giant branch, dwarf spheroidal galaxies, M33, NGC 205, NGC 185, NGC 147, Pegasus, WLM, Cetus, Aquarius, standard candles, photometry

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