Abstract
We use Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5 photometry and spectroscopy to study a tidal stream that extends over ∼50° in the north Galactic cap. From the analysis of the path of the stream and the colors and magnitudes of its stars, the stream is ∼20-5 +7 kpc away at its nearest detection (the celestial equator). We detect a distance gradient: the stream is farther away from us at higher declination. The contents of the stream are made up from a predominantly old and metal-poor population that is similar to the globular clusters M13 and M92. The integrated absolute magnitude of the stream stars is estimated to be Mr ∼ -7.5. There is tentative evidence for a velocity signature, with the stream moving at ∼-40 km s -1 at low declinations and ∼+100 km s-1 at high declinations. The stream lies on the same great circle as Complex A, a roughly linear association of H I high-velocity clouds stretching over ∼30° on the sky, and as Ursa Major II, a recently discovered dwarf spheroidal galaxy. Lying close to the same great circle are a number of anomalous, young, and metal-poor globular clusters, including Palomar 1 and Ruprecht 106.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 337-344 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 658 |
Issue number | 1 I |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20 Mar 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Galaxies: kinematics and dynamics
- Galaxies: structure
- Local group