H I observations of SA 68-6597: The faintest blue compact dwarf galaxy

D. J. Pisano, David C. Koo, Christopher N.A. Willmer, Kai Gerhard Noeske, A. C. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDs) are faint (MB ≤ -17 mag), compact (R < 1 kpc), and at least qualitatively very blue galaxies, due to active star formation, and have low metallicities. Found serendipitously as part of a redshift survey of faint galaxies with the Keck Telescope (DEEP), SA 68-6597 is at a distance of 80 Mpc, and is one of the faintest (-12.4 mag), lowest metallicity (∼0.05 Z) BCDs known. Its Hβ line width of σ = 27 km s-1 and small size, Reff ∼ 190 pc, suggest that it is an extremely low mass galaxy. We have used the Arecibo telescope to measure the H I properties of SA 68-6597 in order to better constrain its total mass and its potential for future star formation. SA 68-6597 has a MHI = (1.4 ± 0.4) × 107 M and an H I FWHM line width of 33-12+60. Combining the H I line width with an estimate of the size of the H I disk, we derive a Mdyn ≳ 3 × 107 M. The values MHI/LB = 1.0 ± 0.3 M/ L, Mdyn/LB ≥ 2 M/ L, and MHI/Mdyn ≲ 0.47 are typical for BCDs. Combining the measured star formation rate of 0.003 M yr-1 with the H I mass, we derive a gas depletion timescale of 5 ± 2 Gyr. While SA 68-6597 is a fainter, lower mass, higher metallicity counterpart to other BCDs like I Zw 18 and SBS 0335-052, its H I properties suggest that it will not evolve dramatically in the near future. Given the limits on its gaseous and dynamical masses, SA 68-6597 may be able to evolve into a moderately massive dwarf spheroidal galaxy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)L25-L28
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume630
Issue number1 II
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Galaxies: ISM
  • Galaxies: dwarf
  • Galaxies: evolution
  • Galaxies: formation
  • Galaxies: fundamental parameters

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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