An Investigation of Sloan Digital Sky Survey Imaging Data and Multi-Band Scaling Relations of Spiral Galaxies (with Dynamical Information)

We have compiled a sample of 3041 spiral galaxies with multi-band gri imaging from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 and available galaxy rotational velocities derived from HI line widths. We compare the data products provided through the SDSS imaging pipeline with our own photometry of the SDSS images, and use the velocities (V) as an independent metric to determine ideal galaxy sizes (R) and luminosities (L). Our radial and luminosity parameters improve upon the SDSS DR7 Petrosian radii and luminosities through the use of isophotal fits to the galaxy images. This improvement is gauged via VL and RV relations whose respective scatters are reduced by ~8% and ~30% compared to similar relations built with SDSS parameters. The tightest VRL relations are obtained with the i-band radius, R235i, measured at 23.5 mag/arcsec^-2, and the luminosity L235i, measured within R235i. Our VRL scaling relations compare well, both in scatter and slope, with similar studies (such comparisons however depend sensitively on the nature and size of the compared samples). The typical slopes, b, and observed scatters, sigma, of the i-band VL, RL and RV relations are bVL=0.27+/-0.01, bRL=0.41+/-0.01, bRV=1.52+/-0.07, and sigmaVL=0.074, sigmaRL=0.071, sigmaRV=0.154 dex. Similar results for the SDSS g and r bands are also provided. Smaller scatters may be achieved for more pruned samples. We also compute scaling relations in terms of the baryonic mass (stars + gas), Mbar, ranging from 10^8.7 Msol to 10^11.6 Msol. Our baryonic velocity-mass (VM) relation has slope 0.29+/-0.01 and a measured scatter sigma_meas = 0.076 dex. While the observed VL and VM relations have comparable scatter, the stellar and baryonic VM relations may be intrinsically tighter, and thus potentially more fundamental, than other VL relations of spiral galaxies.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS, comments welcom

1.65 micron (H-band) surface photometry of galaxies. VIII: the near-IR k-space at z=0

We present the distribution of a statistical sample of nearby galaxies in the k-space (k1 ~ log M, k2 ~ log Ie, k3 ~ log M/L). Our study is based on near-IR (H-band: lambda = 1.65 micron) observations, for the first time comprising early- and late-type systems. Our data confirm that the mean effective dynamical mass-to-light ratio M/L of the E+S0+S0a galaxies increases with increasing effective dynamical mass M, as expected from the existence of the Fundamental Plane relation. Conversely, spiral and Im/BCD galaxies show a broad distribution in M/L with no detected trend of M/L with M, the former galaxies having M/L values about twice larger than the latter, on average. For all the late-type galaxies, the M/L increases with decreasing effective surface intensity Ie, consistent with the existence of the Tully--Fisher relation. These results are discussed on the basis of the assumptions behind the construction of the k-space and their limitations. Our study is complementary to a previous investigation in the optical (B-band: lambda = 0.44 micron) and allows us to study wavelength-dependences of the galaxy distribution in the k-space. As a first result, we find that the galaxy distribution in the k1--k2 plane reproduces the transition from bulge-less to bulge-dominated systems in galaxies of increasing dynamical mass. Conversely, it appears that the M/L of late-types is higher (lower) than that of early-types with the same M in the near-IR (optical). The origins of this behaviour are discussed in terms of dust attenuation and star formation history.Comment: 11 pages, 1 Postscript table, 3 Postscript figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Mass-to-light ratios from the fundamental plane of spiral galaxy disks

The best-fitting 2-dimensional plane within the 3-dimensional space of spiral galaxy disk observables (rotational velocity v_{rot}, central disk surface brightness \mu_0 = -2.5log I_0, and disk scale-length h) has been constructed. Applying a three-dimensional bisector method of regression analysis to a sample of ~100 spiral galaxy disks that span more than four mag arcsec^{-2} in central disk surface brightness yields v_{rot} ~ I_0^{0.50+/-0.05}h^{0.77+/-0.07} (B-band) and v_{rot} ~ I_0^{0.43+/-0.04}h^{0.69+/-0.07} (R-band). Contrary to popular belief, these results suggest that in the B-band, the dynamical mass-to- light ratio (within 4 disk scale-lengths) is largely independent of surface brightness, varying as I_0^{0.00+/-0.10}h^{0.54+/-0.14}. Consistent results were obtained when the expanse of the analysis was truncated by excluding the low surface brightness galaxies. Previous claims that M/L_B varies with I_0^{-1/2} are shown to be misleading and/or due to galaxy selection effects. Not all low-surface-brightness disk galaxies are dark matter dominated. The situation is however different in the near-infrared where L_{K'} \~ v^4 and M/L_{K'} is shown to vary as I_0^{-1/2}. Theoretical studies of spiral galaxy disks should not assume a constant M/L ratio within any given passband. The B-band dynamical mass-to-light ratio (within 4 disk scale-lengths) has no obvious correlation with (B-R) disk colour, while in the K'-band it varies as -1.25+/-0.28(B-R). Combining the present observational data with recent galaxy model predictions implies that the logarithm of the stellar-to-dynamical mass ratio is not a constant value, but increases as disks become redder, varying as 1 .70+/-0.28(B-R).Comment: Accepted by MNRAS Jan 23. 16 pages (including figures and tables

Dwarf Galaxies in the Coma Cluster: I. Velocity Dispersion Measurements

We present the study of a large sample of early-type dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster observed with DEIMOS on the Keck II to determine their internal velocity dispersion. We focus on a subsample of 41 member dwarf elliptical galaxies for which the velocity dispersion can be reliably measured, 26 of which were studied for the first time. The magnitude range of our sample is $-21<M_R<-15$ mag. This paper (paper I) focuses on the measurement of the velocity dispersion and their error estimates. The measurements were performed using {\it pPXF (penalised PiXel Fitting)} and using the Calcium triplet absorption lines. We use Monte Carlo bootstrapping to study various sources of uncertainty in our measurements, namely statistical uncertainty, template mismatch and other systematics. We find that the main source of uncertainty is the template mismatch effect which is reduced by using templates with a range of spectral types. Combining our measurements with those from the literature, we study the Faber-Jackson relation ($L\propto\sigma^\alpha$) and find that the slope of the relation is $\alpha=1.99\pm0.14$ for galaxies brighter than $M_R\simeq-16$ mag. A comprehensive analysis of the results combined with the photometric properties of these galaxies is reported in paper II.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures and 9 tables. Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journal. (ref. MN-10-2692-MJ.R2) Accepted 2011 September 27. Received 2011 September 13; in original form 2010 December 1

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale XIV. The Cepheids in NGC 1365

We report the detection of Cepheid variable stars in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1365, located in the Fornax cluster, using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. Twelve V (F555W) and four I (F814W) epochs of observation were obtained. The two photometry packages, ALLFRAME and DoPHOT, were separately used to obtain profile-fitting photometry of all the stars in the HST field. The search for Cepheid variable stars resulted in a sample of 52 variables, with periods between 14 and 60 days, in common with both datasets. ALLFRAME photometry and light curves of the Cepheids are presented. A subset of 34 Cepheids were selected on the basis of period, light curve shape, similar ALLFRAME and DoPHOT periods, color, and relative crowding, to fit the Cepheid period-luminosity relations in V and I for both ALLFRAME and DoPHOT. The measured distance modulus to NGC 1365 from the ALLFRAME photometry is 31.31 +/- 0.20 (random) +/- 0.18 (systematic) mag, corresponding to a distance of 18.3 +/- 1.7 (random) +/- 1.6 (systematic) Mpc. The reddening is measured to be E(V-I) = 0.16 +/- 0.08 mag. These values are in excellent agreement with those obtained using the DoPHOT photometry, namely a distance modulus of 31.26 +/- 0.10 mag, and a reddening of 0.15 +/- 0.10 mag (internal errors only).Comment: 48 pages, 8 tables, 8 figures, to appear in Ap

Velocity dispersion measurements of dwarf galaxies in the Coma cluster - implications for the structure of the fundamental plane

We present intermediate-resolution spectroscopic data for a set of dwarf and giant galaxies in the Coma Cluster, with -20.6 < M_R < -15.7. The photometric and kinematic properties of the brighter galaxies can be cast in terms of parameters which present little scatter with respect to a set of scaling relations known as the Fundamental Plane. To determine the form of these fundamental scaling relations at lower luminosities, we have measured velocity dispersions for a sample comprising 69 galaxies on the border of the dwarf and giant regime. Combining these data with our photometric survey, we find a tight correlation of luminosity and velocity dispersion, L \propto \sigma^{2.0}, substantially flatter than the Faber-Jackson relation characterising giant elliptical galaxies. In addition, the variation of mass-to-light ratio with velocity dispersion is quite weak in our dwarf sample: M/L \propto \sigma^{0.2}. Our overall results are consistent with theoretical models invoking large-scale mass removal and subsequent structural readjustment, e.g., as a result of galactic winds.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures, 1 table. MNRAS, in pres

The DART imaging and CaT survey of the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

As part of the DART project we have used the ESO/2.2m Wide Field Imager in conjunction with the VLT/FLAMES GIRAFFE spectrograph to study the detailed properties of the resolved stellar population of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy out to and beyond its tidal radius. We re-derived the structural parameters of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal using our wide field imaging covering the galaxy out to its tidal radius, and analysed the spatial distribution of the Fornax stars of different ages as selected from Colour-Magnitude Diagram analysis. We have obtained accurate velocities and metallicities from spectra in the CaII triplet wavelength region for 562 Red Giant Branch stars which have velocities consistent with membership in Fornax dwarf spheroidal. We have found evidence for the presence of at least three distinct stellar components: a young population (few 100 Myr old) concentrated in the centre of the galaxy, visible as a Main Sequence in the Colour-Magnitude Diagram; an intermediate age population (2-8 Gyr old); and an ancient population (> 10Gyr),which are distinguishable from each other kinematically, from the metallicity distribution and in the spatial distribution of stars found in the Colour-Magnitude Diagram. From our spectroscopic analysis we find that the ``metal rich'' stars ([Fe/H]> -1.3) show a less extended and more concentrated spatial distribution, and display a colder kinematics than the ``metal poor'' stars ([Fe/H<-1.3). There is tentative evidence that the ancient stellar population in the centre of Fornax does not exhibit equilibrium kinematics. This could be a sign of a relatively recent accretion of external material.Comment: 32 pages, 23 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A. The data table (Table 4) will be available in electronic form after publication. The full resolution version can be downloaded from http://www.astro.rug.nl/~gbattagl/battaglia_fullres.p

Wildlife collisions with aircraft: A missing component of land-use planning for airports

Projecting risks posed to aviation safety by wildlife populations is often overlooked in airport land-use planning. However, the growing dependency on civil aviation for global commerce can require increases in capacity at airports which affect land use, wildlife populations, and perspectives on aviation safety. Our objectives were to (1) review legislation that affects airports and surrounding communities relative to managing and reducing wildlife hazards to aviation; (2) identify information gaps and future research needs relative to regulated land uses on and near airports, and the effects on wildlife populations; and (3) demonstrate how information regarding wildlife responses to land-use practices can be incorporated into wildlife-strike risk assessments.We show that guidelines for land-use practices on and near airports with regard to wildlife hazards to aviation can be vague, conflicting, and scientifically ill-supported. We discuss research needs with regard to management of storm water runoff; wildlife use of agricultural crops and tillage regimens relative to revenue and safety; the role of an airport in the landscape matrix with regard to its effects on wildlife species richness and abundance; and spatial and temporal requirements of wildlife species that use airports, relative to implementing current and novel management techniques. We also encourage the development and maintenance of data sets that will allow realistic assessment of wildlife-strike risk relative to current airport conditions and anticipated changes to capacity. Land uses at airports influence wildlife populations, and understanding and incorporating these effects into planning will reduce risks posed to both aviation safety and wildlife species