Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: We report the discovery of tidal tails around the high-latitude Galactic globular cluster NGC 5466 in Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. Neural networks are used to reconstruct the probability distribution of cluster stars in ug r i z space. The tails are clearly visible once extragalactic contaminants and field stars have been eliminated. They extend ~4° on the sky, corresponding to ~1 kpc in projected length. The orientation of the tails is in good agreement with the cluster's Galactic orbit, as judged from the proper-motion data.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
DOI: 10.1086/500362
Authors: V. Belokurov, N. W. Evans, M. J. Irwin, P. C. Hewett, M. I. Wilkinson
Institution: University of Cambridge
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2805950841