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Article
Tracing the star stream through M31 using planetary nebula kinematics
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2003)
  • H. R. Merrett, University of Nottingham
  • K. Kuijken
  • M. R. Merrifield, University of Nottingham
  • Aaron J. Romanowsky, San Jose State University
  • N. G. Douglas
  • N. R. Napolitano
  • M. Arnaboldi
  • M. Capaccioli
  • K. C. Freeman, Australian National University
  • O. Gerhard
  • N. W. Evans
  • M. I. Wilkinson
  • C. Halliday
  • T. J. Bridges
  • D. Carter
Abstract

We present a possible orbit for the Southern Stream of stars in M31, which connects it to the Northern Spur. Support for this model comes from the dynamics of planetary nebulae (PNe) in the disc of M31: analysis of a new sample of 2611 PNe obtained using the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph reveals ∼20 objects with kinematics inconsistent with the normal components of the galaxy, but which lie at the right positions and velocities to connect the two photometric features via this orbit. The satellite galaxy M32 is coincident with the stream both in position and velocity, adding weight to the hypothesis that the stream comprises its tidal debris.

Publication Date
2003
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2003 Oxford University Press. The published article may be found at :http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2966.2003.07367.x.
Citation Information
H. R. Merrett, K. Kuijken, M. R. Merrifield, Aaron J. Romanowsky, et al.. "Tracing the star stream through M31 using planetary nebula kinematics" Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Vol. 346 Iss. L62-L66 (2003)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/aaron_romanowsky/62/