http://arxiv.org/abs/1903.07285
The possible existence of two dark matter free galaxies (NGC1052-DF2 and NGC1052-DF4) in the field of the early-type galaxy NGC1052 faces a challenge to current theories of dwarf galaxy formation according to the current cosmological paradigm. We carried out a search for signatures of past interactions connected to the putative hosts of NGC1052-DF2 and NGC1052-DF4 using a very deep image obtained with the 0.7m Jeanne Rich telescope that reach a surface brightness limit of 29 mag per sqr arcsec in the r band. We found several low-surface brightness features, possibly consistent with an ongoing merger history in this group. We find a stellar bridge connecting the NGC1052 and NGC1047, confirming a physical association. Furthermore we find a stellar loop around NGC1052 in the direction of NGC1042 and a stellar stream pointing in the direction of NGC1052-DF2 — but both are not directly connected. We find no evidence for a recent tidal interaction for the NGC1052-DF2 and NGC1052-DF4 galaxies. No low surface brightness features have been uncovered around the spiral galaxy NGC1042, indicating that the two galaxies are not currently tidally interacting though they have similar radial velocities.
O. Müller, R. Rich, J. Román, et. al.
Tue, 19 Mar 19
31/100
Comments: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to A&A