Spectroscopy of the Three Distant Andromedan Satellites Cassiopeia III, Lacerta I, and Perseus I

Nicolas F. Martin*, Kenneth C. Chambers, Michelle L. M. Collins, Rodrigo A. Ibata, R. Michael Rich, Eric F. Bell, Edouard J. Bernard, Annette M. N. Ferguson, Heather Flewelling, Nicholas Kaiser, Eugene A. Magnier, John L. Tonry, Richard J. Wainscoat

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present Keck II/DEIMOS spectroscopy of the three distant dwarf galaxies of M31 Lacerta I, Cassiopeia III, and Perseus I, recently discovered within the Pan-STARRS1 3π imaging survey. The systemic velocities of the three systems (v r, helio = -198.4 ± 1.1 km s-1, -371.6 ± 0.7 km s-1, and -326 ± 3 km s-1, respectively) confirm that they are satellites of M31. In the case of Lacerta I and Cassiopeia III, the high quality of the data obtained for 126 and 212 member stars, respectively, yields reliable constraints on their global velocity dispersions (σvr = 10.3 ± 0.9 km s-1 and 8.4 ± 0.6 km s-1, respectively), leading to dynamical-mass estimates for both of ~4 × 107 M ⊙ within their half-light radius. These translate to V-band mass-to-light ratios of 15^{+12}_{-9} and 8^{+9}_{-5} in solar units. We also use our spectroscopic data to determine the average metallicity of the three dwarf galaxies ([Fe/H] = -2.0 ± 0.1, -1.7 ± 0.1, and -2.0 ± 0.2, respectively). All these properties are typical of dwarf galaxy satellites of Andromeda with their luminosity and size.
Original languageEnglish
Article number14
Number of pages5
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume793
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Sept 2014

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • galaxies: individual (Cas III Lac I Per I)
  • galaxies: kinematics and dynamics
  • Local Group
  • DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXIES
  • UNIVERSAL MASS PROFILE
  • LOCAL GROUP
  • MILKY-WAY
  • KINEMATICS
  • SYSTEM
  • XXVIII

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