Program: GS-2009A-Q-74

Title:Probing the RGB Content in the Outer UV disk of M83
PI:Tim Davidge
Co-I(s):

Abstract

I propose to use NICI on Gemini South to obtain deep J and Kp images of five fields in the outer regions of the Centaurus Group spiral galaxy M83. Observations of this galaxy with GALEX have found evidence for hot stars in the outer disk, and subsequent observations suggest that this region is chemically young. The NICI data will be used to search for RGB-tip stars in the outer UV disk. If an RGB component that follows an exponential light profile is found then it will indicate that the outer disk of M83 also contains a population of disk stars with ages in excess of roughly 1 Gyr.

Publications using this program's data