The Apache Point Observatory extra-Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOeGEE): Chemical Abundance Trends for Seven Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies in the APOGEE Survey

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Main Authors: Shetrone, Matthew, Beaton, Rachael L., Hayes, Christian R., Hasselquist, Sten, Simon, Joshua D., Holtzman, Jon A., Cunha, Katia, Majewski, Steven R., Sobeck, Jennifer, Schiavon, Ricardo, Masseron, Thomas, Smith, Verne V., Nidever, David L.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Shetrone, Matthew
Beaton, Rachael L.
Hayes, Christian R.
Hasselquist, Sten
Simon, Joshua D.
Holtzman, Jon A.
Cunha, Katia
Majewski, Steven R.
Sobeck, Jennifer
Schiavon, Ricardo
Masseron, Thomas
Smith, Verne V.
Nidever, David L.
author_facet Shetrone, Matthew
Beaton, Rachael L.
Hayes, Christian R.
Hasselquist, Sten
Simon, Joshua D.
Holtzman, Jon A.
Cunha, Katia
Majewski, Steven R.
Sobeck, Jennifer
Schiavon, Ricardo
Masseron, Thomas
Smith, Verne V.
Nidever, David L.
contents In addition to comprehensive surveys of the Milky Way bulge, disk, and halo, the Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) project observed seven dwarf spheroidal satellites (dSphs) of the Milky Way: Carina, Sextans, Sculptor, Draco, Ursa Minor, Bootes 1, and Fornax. APOGEE radial velocities, stellar parameters, and Gaia EDR3 proper motions are used to identify member stars in the vicinity of each dwarf. To properly analyze the abundance patterns of these galaxies, a novel procedure was developed to determine the measurable upper limits of the APOGEE chemical abundances as a function of the effective temperature and the spectral signal-to-noise ratio. In general, the APOGEE abundance patterns of these galaxies (limited to [Fe/H] $>$ -2.5) agree with those found in high-resolution optical studies after abundance offsets are applied. Most of the galaxies studied have abundance patterns that are distinctly different from the majority of stars found in the MW halo, suggesting that these galaxies contributed little to the MW halo above [Fe/H] $>$ -2.0. From these abundance patterns, we find that these dSphs tend to follow two types of chemical evolution paths: episodic and continuous star formation, a result that is consistent with previous photometric studies of their star formation histories. We explore whether mass and/or environment have an impact on whether a galaxy has an episodic or continuous star formation history, finding evidence that, in addition to the galaxy's mass, proximity to a larger galaxy and the cessation of star formation may drive the overall shape of the chemical evolution.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_04365
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Apache Point Observatory extra-Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOeGEE): Chemical Abundance Trends for Seven Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies in the APOGEE Survey
Shetrone, Matthew
Beaton, Rachael L.
Hayes, Christian R.
Hasselquist, Sten
Simon, Joshua D.
Holtzman, Jon A.
Cunha, Katia
Majewski, Steven R.
Sobeck, Jennifer
Schiavon, Ricardo
Masseron, Thomas
Smith, Verne V.
Nidever, David L.
Astrophysics of Galaxies
In addition to comprehensive surveys of the Milky Way bulge, disk, and halo, the Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) project observed seven dwarf spheroidal satellites (dSphs) of the Milky Way: Carina, Sextans, Sculptor, Draco, Ursa Minor, Bootes 1, and Fornax. APOGEE radial velocities, stellar parameters, and Gaia EDR3 proper motions are used to identify member stars in the vicinity of each dwarf. To properly analyze the abundance patterns of these galaxies, a novel procedure was developed to determine the measurable upper limits of the APOGEE chemical abundances as a function of the effective temperature and the spectral signal-to-noise ratio. In general, the APOGEE abundance patterns of these galaxies (limited to [Fe/H] $>$ -2.5) agree with those found in high-resolution optical studies after abundance offsets are applied. Most of the galaxies studied have abundance patterns that are distinctly different from the majority of stars found in the MW halo, suggesting that these galaxies contributed little to the MW halo above [Fe/H] $>$ -2.0. From these abundance patterns, we find that these dSphs tend to follow two types of chemical evolution paths: episodic and continuous star formation, a result that is consistent with previous photometric studies of their star formation histories. We explore whether mass and/or environment have an impact on whether a galaxy has an episodic or continuous star formation history, finding evidence that, in addition to the galaxy's mass, proximity to a larger galaxy and the cessation of star formation may drive the overall shape of the chemical evolution.
title The Apache Point Observatory extra-Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOeGEE): Chemical Abundance Trends for Seven Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxies in the APOGEE Survey
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.04365