Abstract
We present the discovery of a new dwarf galaxy, Hydra II, found serendipitously within the data from the ongoing Survey of the Magellanic Stellar History conducted with the Dark Energy Camera on the Blanco 4 m Telescope. The new satellite is compact (r_h = 68 ± 11 pc) and faint (M_V = -4.8 ± 0.3), but well within the realm of dwarf galaxies. The stellar distribution of Hydra II in the color-magnitude diagram is well-described by a metal-poor ([Fe/H] = -2.2) and old (13 Gyr) isochrone and shows a distinct blue horizontal branch, some possible red clump stars, and faint stars that are suggestive of blue stragglers. At a heliocentric distance of 134 ± 10 kpc, Hydra II is located in a region of the Galactic halo that models have suggested may host material from the leading arm of the Magellanic Stream. A comparison with N-body simulations hints that the new dwarf galaxy could be or could have been a satellite of the Magellanic Clouds.
Original language | English |
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Article number | L5 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal Letters |
Volume | 804 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 23 Apr 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2015 |
Keywords
- galaxies: individual (Hydra II)
- Local Group
- Magellanic Clouds