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Publication | Closed Access

Ultraviolet imaging of old population in nearby galaxies

DOI

41

Citations

0

References

1992

Year

R. W. O’Connell, R. C. Bohlin, Nicholas R. Collins, R. H. Cornett, J. K. Hill, Robert Hill, Morton S. Roberts, Andrew M. Smith, T. P. Stecher
The Astrophysical Journal

Abstract

We analyze UV imagery of two Sb bulges and two E galaxies obtained with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope during the Astro-1 mission. The UV brightness of these systems is not produced by recent massive star formation. Instead, it must originate in relatively low-luminosity objects, probably low-mass, post-giant-branch stars. We find extended, large-amplitude UV color gradients, which are probably related to abundance gradients within the galaxies. M32 has a color gradient opposite to the other three objects, possibly because of an intermediate- age population.