WFPC2 Observations of Star Clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. I. The Large Magellanic Cloud Globular Cluster Hodge 11

Abstract

We present our analysis of Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations in F555W (broadband V) and F450W (broadband B) of the globular cluster Hodge Il in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. The resulting V vs B - V color-magnitude diagram reaches 2.4 mag below the main-sequence turnoff (which is at V_TO_ = 22.65+/-0.10 mag or M_V_^TO^ = 4.00+/-0.16 mag). Comparing the fiducial sequence of Hodge II with that of the Galactic globular cluster M92, we conclude that, within the accuracy of our photometry, the age of Hodge II is identical to that of M92 with a relative age-difference uncertainty ranging from 10% to 21%. Provided that Hodge II has always been a part of the Large Magellanic Cloud and was not stripped from the halo of the Milky Way or absorbed from a cannibalized dwarf spheroidal galaxy, then the oldest stars in the Large Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way appear to have the same age.