Abstract
The Virgo cluster of galaxies is of great importance to study the development of the universe due to its close distance from the earth as well as being the center of the local super cluster. The problem that faces Virgo cluster studies is that it shares the same right ascension (RA) and Declination (DEC) ranges with large number of background as well as foreground galaxies. This study aims to geometrically and statistically estimate Virgo cluster membership. The study employs Virgo cluster data, prepared by Harvard University. The radial velocity (RV) data of the Virgo cluster were treated and employed in exchange of missing galaxies’ third dimension, taking advantage of their proportionality. The data were treated by K-means algorithm, using Matlab 2014, and visual and logical exclusion of extremity galaxies to determine the rational center of the Virgo galaxies cluster. Results were presented, compared and discussed. Finally distances of galaxies from the Virgo cluster center were employed along with normal probability distribution characteristics to identify the most probable Virgo cluster members from the range of Virgo cluster of galaxies. The results showed that out of 17,466 objects surveyed in Virgo galaxy range, only few of galaxies were estimated to be genuine Virgo members.
Highlights
The study of the Virgo cluster is important to explore the development stages of the universe
The results showed that out of 17,466 objects surveyed in Virgo galaxy range, only few of galaxies were estimated to be genuine Virgo members
The raw Virgo data clusters of galaxies contain all the galaxies within right ascension (RA) from 11.0 to 14.0 hours and DEC from −10 to + 35 degrees. This roughly rectangular region is centered around 12.5 hours and +12 degrees, where Harvard believes that Virgo cluster center is located. 2 Micron All-Sky Survey catalogs (2MASS)’s RA is measured in hours, minutes and seconds format, running from 0 to 24 hours
Summary
The study of the Virgo cluster is important to explore the development stages of the universe. Its location in the crowded center of our local super cluster causes it to share its right ascension (RA) and Declination (DEC) ranges with large number of unrelated background as well as foreground galaxies [4]. These galaxies would highly influence investigations of Virgo cluster structure [5]. This technique could be employed on Euclidian distances between galaxies’ locations and their cluster center In this technique, the probability of each galaxy membership to the cluster is identified and a threshold of probability is employed to differentiate between the cluster members and field galaxies.
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