A Study of Nine High-Redshift Clusters of Galaxies; 3, HST Morphology of Clusters 0023+0423 and 1604+4304

We present a detailed morphological analysis of the galaxy populations in the first two clusters to be completed in an extensive observational study of nine high-redshift clusters of galaxies (Oke, Postman & Lubin 1998). These two clusters, CL0023+0423 and CL1604+4304, are at redshifts of z = 0.84 and z = 0.90, respectively. The morphological studies are based on high-angular resolution imagery taken with WFPC2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. These data are combined with deep, ground-based BVRI photometry and spectra taken with the Keck 10-meter telescopes. Based on these observations, CL0023+0423 has a galaxy population which is more similar to groups of galaxies and the field. This system is almost completely dominated by spiral galaxies. CL1604+4304, however, has a morphological composition which is more typical of a normal, present-day cluster; early-type galaxies comprise approximately 76% of all galaxies brighter than M_V = -19.0 + 5 log h in the central 0.5 h^{-1} Mpc. The ratio of S0 galaxies to ellipticals in this cluster is 1.7 +/- 0.9, consistent with local cluster populations. The morphological results support the conclusions of the dynamical analysis presented in the second paper of this series (Postman, Lubin & Oke 1998). CL0023+0423 consists of two galaxy groups which are separated by approximately 2900 km/s in radial velocity. On the other hand, CL1604+4304 has a morphological composition, velocity dispersion, and implied mass which are consistent with an Abell richness class 2 or 3 cluster

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale; 15, A Cepheid Distance to the Fornax Cluster and Its Implications

Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) 37 long-period Cepheid variables have been discovered in the Fornax Cluster spiral galaxy NGC 1365. The resulting V and I period-luminosity relations yield a true distance modulus of 31.35 +/- 0.07 mag, which corresponds to a distance of 18.6 +/- 0.6 Mpc. This measurement provides several routes for estimating the Hubble Constant. (1) Assuming this distance for the Fornax Cluster as a whole yields a local Hubble Constant of 70 +/-18_{random} [+/-7]_{systematic} km/s/Mpc. (2) Nine Cepheid-based distances to groups of galaxies out to and including the Fornax and Virgo clusters yield Ho = 73 (+/-16)_r [+/-7]_s km/s/Mpc. (3) Recalibrating the I-band Tully-Fisher relation using NGC 1365 and six nearby spiral galaxies, and applying it to 15 galaxy clusters out to 100 Mpc gives Ho = 76 (+/-3)_r [+/-8]_s km/s/Mpc. (4) Using a broad-based set of differential cluster distance moduli ranging from Fornax to Abell 2147 gives Ho = 72 (+/-)_r [+/-6]_s km/s/Mpc. And finally, (5) Assuming the NGC 1365 distance for the two additional Type Ia supernovae in Fornax and adding them to the SnIa calibration (correcting for light curve shape) gives Ho = 67 (+/-6)_r [+/-7]_s km/s/Mpc out to a distance in excess of 500 Mpc. All five of these Ho determinations agree to within their statistical errors. The resulting estimate of the Hubble Constant combining all these determinations is Ho = 72 (+/-5)_r [+/-12]_s km/s/Mpc

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale; 13, The Metallicity Dependence of the Cepheid Distance Scale

Uncertainty in the metal abundance dependence of the Cepheid variable period- luminosity (PL) relation remains one of the outstanding sources of systematic error in the extragalactic distance scale and Hubble constant. To test for such a metallicity dependence, we have used the WFPC2 camera on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to observe Cepheids in two fields in the nearby spiral galaxy M101, which span a range in oxygen abundance of 0.7+-0.15 dex. A differential analysis of the PL relations in V and I in the two fields yields a marginally significant change in the inferred distance modulus on metal abundance, with d(m-M)/d[O/H] = -0.24+-0.16 mag/dex. The trend is in the theoretically predicted sense that metal-rich Cepheids appear brighter and closer than metal-poor stars. External comparisons of Cepheid distances with those derived from three other distance indicators, in particular the tip of the red giant branch method, further constrain the magnitude of any Z-dependence of the PL relation at V and I. The overall effects of any metallicity dependence on the distance scale derived with HST will be of the order of a few percent or less for most applications, though distances to individual galaxies at the extremes of the metal abundance range may be affected at the 10% level

The Hubble Space Telescope Extragalactic Distance Scale Key Project; 10: The Cepheid Distance to NGC 7331

The distance to NGC 7331 has been derived from Cepheid variables observed with HST/WFPC2, as part of the Extragalactic Distance Scale Key Project. Multi-epoch exposures in F555W (V) and F814W (I), with photometry derived independently from DoPHOT and DAOPHOT/ALLFRAME programs, were used to detect a total of 13 reliable Cepheids, with periods between 11 and 42 days. The relative distance moduli between NGC 7331 and the LMC, imply an extinction to NGC 7331 of A_V = 0.47+-0.15 mag, and an extinction-corrected distance modulus to NGC 7331 of 30.89+-0.14(random) mag, equivalent to a distance of 15.1 Mpc. There are additional systematic uncertainties in the distance modulus of +-0.12 mag due to the calibration of the Cepheid Period-Luminosity relation, and a systematic offset of +0.05+-0.04 mag if we applied the metallicity correction inferred from the M101 results of Kennicutt et al 1998

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale; 12, The Discovery of Cepheids and a New Distance to NGC 2541

We report the detection of Cepheids and a new distance to the spiral galaxy NGC 2541, based on data obtained with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). A total of 25 exposures (divided into 13 epochs) are obtained using the F555W filter (transformed to Johnson V), and nine exposures (divided into five epochs) using the F814W filter (transformed to Cousins I). Photometric reduction of the data is performed using two independent packages, DoPHOT and DAOPHOT II/ALLFRAME, which give very good agreement in the measured magnitudes. A total of 34 bona fide Cepheids, with periods ranging from 12 to over 60 days, are identified based on both sets of photometry. By fitting V and I period-luminosity relations, apparent distance moduli are derived assuming a Large Magellanic Cloud distance modulus and mean color excess of 18.50 +/- 0.10 mag and E(B-V) = 0.10 mag respectively. Adopting A(V)/E(V-I)=2.45, we obtain a true distance modulus to NGC 2541 of 30.47 +/- 0.11 (random) +/- 0.12 (systematic) mag (D = 12.4 +/- 0.6 (random) +/- 0.7 (systematic) Mpc), and a total (Galactic plus internal) mean color excess E(B-V) = 0.08 +/- 0.05 (internal error) mag

Observations and Implications of the Star Formation History of the LMC

We present derivations of star formation histories based on color-magnitude diagrams of three fields in the LMC from HST/WFPC2 observations. A significant component of stars older than 4 Gyr is required to match the observed color-magnitude diagrams. Models with a dispersion-free age-metallicity relation are unable to reproduce the width of the observed main sequence; models with a range of metallicity at a given age provide a much better fit. Such models allow us to construct complete ``population boxes'' for the LMC based entirely on color-magnitude diagrams; remarkably, these qualitatively reproduce the age-metallicity relation observed in LMC clusters. We discuss some of the uncertainties in deriving star formation histories. We find, independently of the models, that the LMC bar field has a larger relative component of older stars than the outer fields. The main implications suggested by this study are: 1) the star formation history of field stars appears to differ from the age distribution of clusters, 2) there is no obvious evidence for bursty star formation, but our ability to measure bursts shorter in duration than $\sim$ 25% of any given age is limited by the statistics of the observed number of stars, 3) there may be some correlation of the star formation rate with the last close passage of the LMC/SMC/Milky Way, but there is no dramatic effect, and 4) the derived star formation history is probably consistent with observed abundances, based on recent chemical evolution models

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale; 22, The Discovery of Cepheids in NGC 1326-A

We report on the detection of Cepheids and the first distance measurement to the spiral galaxy NGC 1326-A, a member of the Fornax cluster of galaxies. We have employed data obtained with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. Over a 49 day interval, a total of twelve V-band (F555W) and eight I-band (F814W) epochs of observation were obtained. Two photometric reduction packages, ALLFRAME and DoPHOT, have been employed to obtain photometry measures from the three Wide Field CCDs. Variability analysis yields a total of 17 Cepheids in common with both photometry datasets, with periods ranging between 10 and 50 days. Of these 14 Cepheids with high-quality lightcurves are used to fit the V and I period-luminosity relations and derive apparent distance moduli, assuming a Large Magellanic Cloud distance modulus (m-M) (LMC) = 18.50 +- 0.10 mag and color excess E(B-V) = 0.10 mag. Assuming A(V)/E(V-I) = 2.45, the DoPHOT data yield a true distance modulus to NGC 1326-A of (m-M)_0 = 31.36 +- 0.17 (random) +- 0.13 (systematic) mag, corresponding to a distance of 18.7 \pm 1.5 (random) \pm 1.2 (systematic) Mpc. The derived distance to NGC 1326-A is in good agreement with the distance derived previously to NGC 1365, another spiral galaxy member of the Fornax cluster. However the distances to both galaxies are significantly lower than to NGC 1425, a third Cepheid calibrator in the outer parts of the cluster

Ionization Structure in the 30 Doradus Nebula as seen with HST/WFPC-2

Using the Hubble Space Telescope and WFPC2 we have imaged the central 20pc of the giant H II region 30 Doradus nebula in three different emission lines. The images allow us to study the nebula with a physical resolution that is within a factor of two of that typical of ground based observations of Galactic H II regions. Most of the emission within 30 Dor is confined to a thin zone located between the hot interior of the nebula and surrounding dense molecular material. This zone appears to be directly analogous to the photoionized photoevaporative flows that dominate emission from small, nearby H II regions. The dynamical effects of the photoevaporative flow can be seen. The ram pressure in the photoevaporative flow, derived from thermal pressure at the surface of the ionization front, is found to balance with the pressure in the interior of the nebula derived from previous x-ray observations. By analogy with the comparison of ground and HST images of M16 we infer that the same sharply stratified structure seen in HST images of M16 almost certainly underlies the observed structure in 30 Dor. 30 Doradus is a crucial case because it allows us to bridge the gap between nearby H II regions and the giant H II regions seen in distant galaxies. The real significance of this result is that it demonstrates that the physical understanding gained from detailed study of photoevaporative interfaces in nearby H II regions can be applied directly to interpretation of giant H II regions

The HST Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale; 14, 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)

Far-Ultraviolet and Visible Imaging of the Nucleus of M32

We have imaged the nucleus of M32 at 1600 Angstroms (FUV) and 5500 Angstroms (V) using the Wide-Field/Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) aboard HST. We detected the nucleus at 1600 Angstroms using the redleak-free Woods filter on WFPC2. The FUV light profile can be fit with a Gaussian of FWHM 0.46" (4.6 pixels), but cannot be resolved into individual stars; no UV-bright nuclear structure was detected. The (FUV-V) color of the nucleus is 4.9 +/- 0.3, consistent with earlier observations. We are unable to confirm any radial variation in (FUV-V) within 0.8" of the nucleus; beyond that radius the FUV surface brightness drops below our detection threshhold. We also performed surface photometry in V and found our results to be in excellent agreement with deconvolved, WFPC1 results. M32's light profile continues to rise in a nuclear cusp even within 0.1" of its center. No intermediate-age stellar population is required by evolutionary population synthesis models to reproduce the (FUV-V) color of the nucleus, although these data and current models are insufficient to resolve this issue.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, LaTex aaspp4.sty, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa