| Title | Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Globular Clusters in M87 and an Estimate of H 0 |
| Authors | Whitmore, Bradley C.; Sparks, William B.; Lucas, Ray A.; Macchetto, F. Duccio; Biretta, John A. |
| Bibcode | 1995ApJ...454L..73W Search ADS ↗ |
| Abstract | Hubble Space Telescope observations of over 1000 globular clusters in the central region of M87 have been made using the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2. The limiting magnitude in V is 26 mag, more than 2 mag beyond the turnover of the luminosity function. The distribution is well fitted by a Gaussian profile with a mean of 0V> = 23.72 +/- 0.06 mag and a width of 1.40 +/- 0.06 mag. Assuming a value of 0V> = -7.4 +/- 0.25 mag for the globular cluster luminosity function results in a distance modulus of (m - M) = 31.12 mag to the Virgo Cluster. Using a value of Delta Coma-Virgo(m - M) = 3.71 +/- 0.10 mag and adopting a velocity for the Coma Cluster of 7188 km s-1 result in a value for the Hubble constant of H0 = 78 +/- 11 km s-1 Mpc-1. The V - I color distribution is bimodal, with peaks at V - I = 0.95 mag and 1.20 mag. The mean size of the clusters is Reff = 3 pc, with a scatter of 1 pc. |
| Objects | 2 Objects Search NED ↙ |
