Bibcode
DOI
Gallart, C.; Aparicio, A.; Chiosi, C.; Bertelli, G.; Vilchez, J. M.
Bibliographical reference
Astrophysical Journal, Part 2 - Letters (ISSN 0004-637X), vol. 425, no. 1, p. L9-L12
Advertised on:
4
1994
Journal
Citations
33
Refereed citations
25
Description
About 500 asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars have been resolved and
photometrically measured in the Local Group (LG) dwarf irregular galaxy
NGC 6822. They draw an AGB well shaped, densely populated, and extending
to very red colors. It is the first time that this kind of AGB has been
clearly detected. Using recent stellar evolutionary models and
isochrones, we discuss the stellar population of the galaxy, showing, in
particular, how the structure of the AGB can be used as an observable to
trace the intermediate-age and old star formation history of the galaxy.
The powerful telescopes and detectors currently available offer the
opportunity of detecting this structure in other nearby galaxies. This
opens new paths for the study of the intermediate-age and old
populations of the LG.