An isolated early-type dwarf galaxy that ran away from the group environment

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Paudel, Sanjaya, Sabiu, Cristiano G., Yoon, Suk-Jin, Durrell, Patrick R., Pokhrel, Nau Raj
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Paudel, Sanjaya
Sabiu, Cristiano G.
Yoon, Suk-Jin
Durrell, Patrick R.
Pokhrel, Nau Raj
author_facet Paudel, Sanjaya
Sabiu, Cristiano G.
Yoon, Suk-Jin
Durrell, Patrick R.
Pokhrel, Nau Raj
contents Understanding the quenching mechanisms in dwarf galaxies is crucial for constraining models of galaxy formation and evolution. In this vein, isolated dwarf galaxies offer valuable insight by helping disentangle the relative roles of internal and environmental processes in shutting down star formation. Here we report the discovery of a quiescent early-type dwarf galaxy (dE), SDSS J011754.86+095819.0 (hereafter dE01+09), located in a nearly isolated environment at a projected distance of approximately one megaparsec from its most likely host group, the NGC 524 group. dE01+09 has M_r = -15.72 and g-r = 0.67 mag and its light profile is well described by a Sérsic function with an index n = 1.1, consistent with typical dEs. Using optical spectroscopy from the DESI survey, we derive its simple stellar population properties, finding an intermediate luminosity-weighted age of 8.3$\pm$1.4 Gyr and a subsolar metallicity of -1.19$\pm$0.21 dex -- characteristics comparable to those of classical quiescent dEs. We propose that NGC 524 may represent an extreme example of group dynamics, in which a member galaxy, dE01+09, is ejected from its host group and subsequently evolves as an isolated system in the field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_20459
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle An isolated early-type dwarf galaxy that ran away from the group environment
Paudel, Sanjaya
Sabiu, Cristiano G.
Yoon, Suk-Jin
Durrell, Patrick R.
Pokhrel, Nau Raj
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Understanding the quenching mechanisms in dwarf galaxies is crucial for constraining models of galaxy formation and evolution. In this vein, isolated dwarf galaxies offer valuable insight by helping disentangle the relative roles of internal and environmental processes in shutting down star formation. Here we report the discovery of a quiescent early-type dwarf galaxy (dE), SDSS J011754.86+095819.0 (hereafter dE01+09), located in a nearly isolated environment at a projected distance of approximately one megaparsec from its most likely host group, the NGC 524 group. dE01+09 has M_r = -15.72 and g-r = 0.67 mag and its light profile is well described by a Sérsic function with an index n = 1.1, consistent with typical dEs. Using optical spectroscopy from the DESI survey, we derive its simple stellar population properties, finding an intermediate luminosity-weighted age of 8.3$\pm$1.4 Gyr and a subsolar metallicity of -1.19$\pm$0.21 dex -- characteristics comparable to those of classical quiescent dEs. We propose that NGC 524 may represent an extreme example of group dynamics, in which a member galaxy, dE01+09, is ejected from its host group and subsequently evolves as an isolated system in the field.
title An isolated early-type dwarf galaxy that ran away from the group environment
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.20459