High Resolution Spectral Atlas of M32
The Kitt Peak Coude Feed Telescope is being used to generate a high
resolution spectral atlas of the nucleus of M32, the nearest high
surface brightness elliptical galaxy. With a Ford 3K CCD, sampling at
0.2-0.3 Å/pixel requires 14 grating tilts to cover the optical
window from 3200Å to 1 micron. The goal is to achieve S/N of at least
100 over the entire wavelength range to study the details of the
absorption lines to learn more about the stellar population present,
how to read integrated light spectra, and how to do spectral synthesis
in larger and more distant ellipticals. Because the spectrum is
highly oversampled, the velocity broadening (about 80 km/s) can be
deconvolved from the spectrum to gain a more detailed look at the
integrated light of the stellar population.
Here is a sample spectrum
(one grating tilt) around the Mg Triplet (5167, 5172, 5183) and a
closeup comparison with the same region in a G5 giant.
Modified February, 2003
Please report any problems or comments to:
albrecht@physics.ucdavis.edu