Year: 2002
Type: article
Abstract: We have successfully constructed a catalog of H I–rich galaxies selected from the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner catalog of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS IThe POSS I field designations we use are the modified Luyten POSS I plate numbers, which are typically 1 greater than the plate reference numbers used in the Guide Star Catalog (Lasker et al. 1990)), based solely on optical criteria. We identify H I–rich candidates by selecting the bluest galaxies at a given apparent magnitude, those galaxies on the blue edge of POSS I color-magnitude parameter space. Subsequent 21 cm observations on the upgraded Arecibo 305 m dish detected over 50% of the observed candidates. The detected galaxies are H I–rich, with H I masses comparable to "normal" high surface brightness disk galaxies, and they have gas mass-to-light ratios ranging from 0.1 to 4.8 (in solar units). Comparison of our candidate galaxies with known low surface brightness galaxies (hereafter LSBs) shows that they exhibit similar optical and H I properties to that population. We also show that previously identified LSBs, including several LSBs with red B - V colors, preferentially occupy the blue edge of POSS I color-magnitude parameter space. Their presence on the blue edge appears to be a selection effect due to differing plate limits in the two POSS I bandpasses. This suggests the POSS I is a good filter for separating galaxies on the higher surface brightness end of the LSB population from the general population of galaxies in the night sky.
Source: The Astronomical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/341042
Authors: J. E. Cabanela, J. M. Dickey
Institutions: Haverford College, University of Minnesota
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2064263059