Program: GN-2010B-Q-29

We ask for deep g', r', i' and z' GMOS images of four fields placed in the Hickson Compact Group (HCG) 44. Similar images of two other fields were observed with GMOS in semester 2009B. We aim at characterizing the faint galaxy content of the group. HCGs are isolated poor groups that contain four or more galaxies within 3 magnitudes of the brightest one. The space density of galaxies in these associations is similar to that in the central region of galaxy clusters, where dEs and dSphs are commonly found. Therefore, it is expected to detect faint members in these systems. However, a clear identification of this population, as well as a detailed study of its properties and its comparison with those displayed by similar objects in other systems, are still lacking. We plan to obtain magnitudes, colours and structural parameters. They will be compared with those of faint galaxies belonging to other groups and clusters, in order to test some results obtained in previous studies of photometric relations followed by early-type galaxies. We also intend to explore the GC systems of the bright galaxy members. We expect to obtain a deep photometry and colour indeces sensitive to metallicity.