Footprints in the sand: What can globular clusters tell us about NGC 4753 past?

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 453; no. 4; pp. 4421 - 4430
• Main Authors: Caso, Juan Pablo, Bassino, Lilia P., Gómez, Matías
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Oxford University Press 11.11.2015
• Subjects: Astronomy; Dust; Filaments; Globular clusters; Luminosity; Sand; Star & galaxy formation; Stellar age; Supernovae; Symbols; Twisting; galaxies: elliptical and lenticular, cD; galaxies: star clusters: individual: NGC 4753
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stv2015

NGC 4753 is a bright (MV  ≈ 22.3) lenticular galaxy. It is a very interesting target to test different theories of formation of lenticular galaxies, due to its low-density environment and complex structure. We perform the first comprehensive study of NGC 4753 globular cluster system (GCS), using Gemini/Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) and CTIO (Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory)/MOSAIC II images. Our results indicate a rather poor GCS of ≈1000 members. Its azimuthal distribution follows the shape of the galaxy bulge. The GC colour distribution is peculiar, presenting an intermediate subpopulation in addition to blue and red ones. This intermediate subgroup can be explained by a single stellar population with an age of 1.53 Gyr and 0.5–1 Z⊙. The GC-specific frequency SN  = 1.3 ± 0.15 is surprisingly low for a galaxy of its class. The GC luminosity function is also peculiar, with an excess of bright GCs compared to the expected Gaussian distribution. The underlying galaxy body has significant substructure, with remnants of spiral arms, dust filaments, and isophote twisting. This, and the fact that NGC 4753 hosted two Type Ia supernovae, support the possibility that the intermediate GC subpopulation may have originated during a recent merger, 13 Gyr ago.