Research report 2008 - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Diffuse stellar Halos in elliptical Galaxies
Authors
Gerhard, Ortwin
Departments
Optische und Interpretative Astronomie (Prof. Dr. Ralf Bender)
MPI für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching
Summary
Elliptical galaxies are surrounded by extended, diffuse stellar halos. In dense galaxy clusters, these halos interact and may be dissolved to form part of the so-called intracluster light. Through Planetary Nebula stars, it has been possible to investigate the kinematics and dynamics in some of these halos, giving new constraints on the formation and on-going evolution of these galaxies.