Spectral Energy Distributions and Age Estimates of 78 Star Clusters in M33

Abstract

In this third paper of our series, we present CCD spectrophotometry of 78 star clusters that were detected by Chandar, Bianchi, & Ford in the nearby spiral galaxy M33. CCD images of M33 were obtained as a part of the BATC Multicolor Sky Survey of the sky in 13 intermediate-band filters from 3800 to 10000 A. By aperture photometry, we obtain the spectral energy distributions of these 78 star clusters. As Chandar, Bianchi, & Ford did, we estimate the ages of our sample clusters by comparing the photometry of each object with theoretical stellar population synthesis models for different values of metallicity. We find that the sample clusters formed continuously in M33 from ~3 × 106 to 1010 yr. This conclusion is consistent with Chandar, Bianchi, & Ford. The results also show that there are two peaks in cluster formation at ~8 × 106 and ~109 yr in these clusters.