Far infra-red emission from NGC 7078: First detection of intra-cluster dust in a globular cluster
van Loon, J. Th.; Eyres, S. P. S.; Evans, A.; Stickel, M.; Penny, A. J.; Hopwood, M. E. L.
United Kingdom, Germany
Abstract
Improved data analysis of far infrared imaging data of the globular cluster NGC 7078 obtained with the ISO instrument ISOPHOT at 60 μm, 70 μm and 90 μm has detected the thermal emission from dust in its core, the first secure detection of intra-cluster dust in a globular cluster. The amount of dust is broadly consistent with mass-loss from evolved, metal-deficient stars in NGC 7078 in the time since it last crossed the Galactic plane.
Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands and the UK) and with the participation of ISAS and NASA.