2007/11/29 by Sidney van den Bergh, Sidney Van Den Bergh · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Scientific Research and Discoveries #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00424.x
MNRAS (Letters), in press
arxiv created 2007/11/29 · openalex publication_date 2008/02/25 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract Traditionally, globular clusters and dwarf spheroidal galaxies have been distinguished by using one or more of the following criteria: (i) mass, (ii) luminosity, (iii) size, (iv) mass-to-light ratio and (v) spread in metallicity. However, a few recently discovered objects show some overlap between the domains in parameter space that are occupied by galaxies and clusters. In this Letter, it is shown that ellipticity can, in some cases, be used to help distinguish between globular clusters and dwarf spheroidal galaxies.