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GMOS SV Program 51

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Status: Completed
Data link: not yet available
Assessment: not yet available
Title: Galaxy evolution: Observations of rich galaxy clusters
Modes: Imaging (for mask preparation)
Multi-object spectroscopy
Additional instrument verification: Data reduction pipeline for imaging data and MOS data; mask preparation software; use of tilted slits.
Telescope verification: Acquisition and guiding with GMOS for tested modes. Stability of guiding over long periods of time and large hour angles.
Proposed observing sequence: Imaging: 4-6 dithered observations in order to cover the gaps between the CCDs and clean the combined images for bad pixels and cosmic-ray-events.
MOS: Multiple 30-60 min exposures, no dithering.
OT program file: Not yet available
Science background:

This program merges several programs in SV plan with a common science driver to study galaxy evolution (stellar populations and dynamics and also gas dynamics and chemical composition of the gas). We propose to obtain imaging and spectroscopy of galaxies in rich clusters at intermediate redshifts. Both simple physics, and also more detailed simulations, predict that one should see evolution in the observed correlations between velocities of stars and gas and galaxy luminosities and radii (i.e. the Fundamental Plane for E/S0 galaxies and the Tully-Fisher relation for spirals). For E/S0 galaxies, it is also predicted that the correlations between stellar velocity dispersions and strengths of the absorption lines of magnesium, iron and hydrogen should be affected by galaxy evolution. We propose to obtain data needed to test these predictions and improve our understanding of galaxy evolution. The sub-programs incluced in this program include observations of galaxies in clusters from z~0.2 to z~0.8, and are aimed at studying both spiral galaxies and E/S0 galaxies. The actual observations to be carried out will most likely focus on one rich cluster and include all types of galaxies.

Other SV programs have related science goals: Program 56 "Starburst galaxies at intermediate redshifts"; program 59 "Stellar populations of dE/dS0 galaxies"; program 60 "Dynamics of E/S0 galaxies"; program 70 "IFU observations of bright cluster galaxies".

Target(s): Rich galaxy cluster
Object RA (J2000) Dec (J2000) z
MS0015.9+1609 00:18:33.3 16:26:36 0.546
RXJ0142.0+2131 01:42:02.6 21:31:19 0.28
Observing condition constraints: image quality: 50%-ile (MOS), 80%-ile (imaging)
sky transparency (clouds): 50%-ile, 70%-ile
sky transparency (water vapour): Any
sky background: 50%-ile (MOS), 80%-ile (Imaging)
max air mass: 1.5
Instrument configuration: Imaging: r', i', CCD binned 2x2
MOS: z=0.3 B600, central wavelength=600nm, 0.75" slitlets, CCD binned 2x2
MOS: z=0.55 B600, central wavelength=680nm, 0.75" slitlets, CCD binned 2x2
Observing time requirements: Imaging: 6x5 min
MOS: 2 masks with faint objects in both. 5-6 hours for each mask.
SV team member(s) responsible for assessment: Inger Jørgensen; Roger Davies; Marianne Takamiya; Jeremy Allington-Smith; Reinaldo de Carvalho

Last update October 12, 2001; Inger Jørgensen


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