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The Carnegie Observatories

Contributing to basic research in astronomy since 1904, as a part of the Carnegie Institution of Washington

Galaxy Content in Groups and Clusters from the SDSS

Sarah Hansen
(U Chicago)


I will present recent analysis of SDSS imaging data quantifying the population of galaxies in MaxBCG-identified clusters and groups. I will discuss the distributions of satellite galaxy luminosity and satellite color and the dependence of these on cluster properties. I will also show the relationship of Brightest Cluster Galaxy luminosity to cluster mass and to satellite galaxy luminosity. These measurements of cluster light, in combination with lensing results, also allow measurement of ensemble cluster mass-to-light profiles. This study demonstrates the power of cross-correlation background correction techniques for measuring galaxy populations in purely photometric data, and provides a baseline for the study of galaxy evolution in higher redshift samples.

Contact/Host: John Mulchaey/Inese Ivans