Tidal Disruption and Tails from the
Carina Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
by J. R. Kuhn, Horace A. Smith, and Suzanne L. Hawley
Michigan State University Department of Physics and Astronomy
E. Lansing, MI 48824-1116 USA
ABSTRACT
New photometry of regions beyond the classical tidal radius of Carina
exposes a Carina-like stellar distribution that is about 1 percent of
the central surface density and which extends at least as far as 2
degrees (3.5kpc) from Carina's center. The detections of a spatially
extended RR Lyrae distribution, and a significant Carina-like stellar
population at large central distances confirm predictions of the time
dependent tidal interaction model, and suggest that Carina is not in
virial equilibrium.
Additional information on RR Lyrae stars can be found at this Site.
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Susan Simkin (Simkin@grus.pa.msu.edu) last updated: 03 Nov '96