Galaxy Evolution Explorer Images Research Articles

Catalog of Planetary Nebulae Detected by GALEX and Corollary Optical Surveys

Planetary nebulae (PNs) consist of an ionized envelope surrounding a hot central star (CSPN) that emits mostly at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. UV observations, therefore, provide important information on both the CSPN and the nebula. We have matched the PNs in the Hong Kong/Australian Astronomical Observatory/Strasbourg Hα catalog with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) UV sky surveys, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 16, and the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) PS1 second release. A total of 671 PNs were observed by GALEX with the far-UV (FUV; 1344 Å–1786 Å) and/or the near-UV (NUV; 1771 Å–2831 Å) detectors on (GUVPNcat); 83 were observed by SDSS (PNcatxSDSSDR16) and 1819 by Pan-STARRS (PNcatxPS1MDS). We merged a distilled version of these matched catalogs into GUVPNcatxSDSSDR16xPS1MDS, which contains a total of 375 PNs with both UV and optical photometry over a total spectral coverage of ∼1540 Å–9610 Å. We analyzed separately 170 PNs resolved in GALEX images and determined their UV radius by applying a flux profile analysis. The CSPN flux could be extracted separately from the PN emission for 8 and 50 objects with SDSS and Pan-STARRS counterparts, respectively. The multiband photometry was used to distinguish between compact and extended PNs and CSPNs (binary CSPNs) by color–color diagram analysis. We found that compact PN candidates could be identified by using the r − i < − 0.4 and −1 < FUV−NUV < 1 colors, whereas binary CSPN candidates in given T eff ranges (all with color r−i > −0.4) can be identified in the color region (FUV−NUV) ≤ 6(r−i)+1.3, −0.8 < FUV−NUV < 0.4, and r−i < 0.75.

Matched Photometric Catalogs of GALEX UV Sources with Gaia DR2 and SDSS DR14 Databases (GUVmatch)

Abstract We have matched the ultraviolet (UV) sources in GUVcat_AIS with optical databases that have similar depth and wide sky coverage. GUVcat_AIS has Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) far-UV (FUV, λ eff ∼ 1528 Å) and near-UV (NUV, λ eff ∼ 2310 Å) photometry of ≈83 million sources, covering 24,788 square degrees of the sky, with a typical depth of FUV = 19.9 and NUV = 20.8 AB mag. Matches with Gaia and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) databases are presented here. Gaia data release 2 (DR2), covering the entire GUVcat footprint, detected about one-third of the GUVcat_AIS sources. We found 31,925,294 Gaia DR2 counterparts to 30,024,791 GUVcat_AIS unique sources, with photometry in the Gaia G band and often also in Gaia BP and RP bands; 26,275,572 matches have a parallax measurement, 21,084,628, 18,588,140, and 16,357,505 have a parallax error less than 50%, 30%, and 20%, respectively. The match with SDSS data release 14 (DR14) yields 23,310,532 counterparts to 22,207,563 unique GUVcat_AIS sources, 10,167,460 of which are pointlike, over a total overlap area of ≈11,100 square degrees (Bianchi et al. 2019). SDSS adds five optical magnitudes to the UV photometry : u, g, r, i, z, and optical spectra of 860,224 matched sources. We used a match radius of 3″, consistent with previous works, although the positions agree to ≲15 for the majority of (pointlike) matched sources, in order to identify possible multiple matches whose UV flux could be unresolved in GALEX imaging. The catalogs can be trimmed to a tighter match radius using the provided separation. The multiband photometry is used to identify classes of astrophysical objects that are prominent in UV, to characterize the content of the GUVmatch catalogs, where stars in different evolutionary stages, quasi-stellar objects, and galaxies can be separated.

A catalogue of 108 extended planetary nebulae observed by GALEX

We present the ultraviolet (UV) imaging observation of planetary nebulae (PNe) using archival data of Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). We found 358 PNe detected by GALEX in near-UV (NUV). We have compiled a catalogue of 108 extended PNe with sizes greater than 8 00 and provided the angular diameters for all the 108 extended PNe in NUV and 28 in FUV from the GALEX images considering 3{\sigma} surface brightness level above the background. Of the 108 PNe, 74 are elliptical, 24 are circular and 10 are bipolar in NUV with most being larger in the UV than in the radio, H{\alpha} or optical. We derived luminosities for 33 PNe in FUV (L FUV ) and 89 PNe in NUV (L NUV ) and found that most of the sources are very bright in UV. The FUV emission of the GALEX band includes contribution from prominent emission lines N IV] (1487 {\AA}), CIV (1550 {\AA}), and O III] (1661 {\AA}) whereas the NUV emission includes C III] (1907 {\AA}) and C II (2325 {\AA}) for PNe of all excitation classes. The other emission lines seen in low excitation PNe are O IV] (1403 {\AA}) and N III(1892 {\AA}) in FUV, and O II (2470 {\AA}) and Mg II (2830 {\AA}) in NUV. Similarly the emission lines O V (1371 {\AA}) and He II (1666 {\AA}) strongly contribute in FUV for high and medium excitation PNe but not for low excitation PNe. A mixture of other emission lines seen in all excitation PNe. We have also provided images of 34 PNe in NUV and 9 PNe in FUV.

Ultra-diffuse Galaxies at Ultraviolet Wavelengths

Abstract We measure near-ultraviolet (NUV) aperture magnitudes from Galaxy Evolution Explorer images for 258 ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) candidates drawn from the initial Systematically Measuring Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies (SMUDGes) survey of ∼300 square degrees surrounding, and including, the Coma galaxy cluster. For the vast majority, 242 of them, we present flux upper limits due either to a lack of significant flux in the aperture or confusion with other objects projected within the aperture. These limits often place interesting constraints on the UDG candidates, indicating that they are non-star-forming or quiescent. In particular, we identify field, quiescent UDG candidates, which are a challenge for formation models and are, therefore, compelling prospects for spectroscopic follow-up and distance determinations. We present far-ultraviolet (FUV) and NUV magnitudes for 16 detected UDG candidates and compare those galaxies to the local population of galaxies on color–magnitude and specific star formation rate diagrams. The NUV-detected UDG candidates form mostly an extension toward lower stellar masses of the star-forming galaxy sequence, and none of these lie within regions of high local galaxy density. UDG candidates span a range of properties, although almost all are consistent with being quiescent, low surface brightness galaxies, regardless of environment.

Massive star formation in galaxies with excess ultraviolet emission

From an analysis of almost 2000 Galaxy Evolution Explorer images of galaxies with morphological types ranging from E to Sab, we have found a significant subset (28 per cent) that show ultraviolet (UV) emission outside R25. We have obtained Hα imaging of 10 such galaxies, and found that their star formation rates are similar in the UV and in Hα, with values ranging from a few tenths to a few M⊙ yr−1. Probably because our sample selection is biased towards star-forming galaxies, these rates are comparable to those found in disc galaxies, although the star formation rates of the elliptical galaxies in our sample are well below 1 M⊙ yr−1. We confirm that the extended UV emission in our sample is caused by massive star formation in outer spiral arms and/or outer (pseudo) rings, rather than by alternative mechanisms such as the UV upturn.

THE EXTENDED OPTICAL DISK OF M101

We have used deep, wide-field optical imaging to study the faint outskirts of the luminous spiral galaxy M101 (NGC 5457) as well as its surrounding environment. Over 6 deg2, our imaging has a limiting surface brightness of μB ∼ 29.5 mag arcsec−2, and has revealed the stellar structure of M101's disk out to nearly 25' (50 kpc), 3 times our measured R25 isophotal size of the optical disk. At these radii, the well-known asymmetry of the inner disk slews 180°, resulting in an asymmetric plume of light at large radius which follows the very extended H i disk to the northeast of M101. This plume has very blue colors (B − V ∼ 0.2), suggesting that it is the somewhat more evolved (few hundred Myr to ∼1 Gyr) counterpart of the young far-ultraviolet emitting population traced by Galaxy Evolution Explorer imaging. We also detect another, redder spur of extended light to the east of the disk, and both structures are reminiscent of features produced during fly-by galaxy interactions. However, we see no evidence of very extended tidal tails around M101 or any of its companions which might be expected from a recent encounter with a massive companion. We consider the properties of M101's outer disk in light of possible past interactions with the nearby companion galaxies NGC 5477 and NGC 5474. The detection of optical starlight at such large radii gives us the ability to study star formation histories and stellar populations in outer disks over longer timescales than those traced by the UV or Hα emitting populations. Our data suggest an ongoing buildup of M101's outer disk due to encounters in the group environment triggering extended star formation and tidal heating of existing disk populations.

The spatial distribution and origin of the FUV excess in early-type galaxies

We present surface photometry of a sample of 52 galaxies from the GALaxy Evolution eXplorer (GALEX) and Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) data archives. These include 32 normal elliptical galaxies, 10 ellipticals with weak LINER or other nuclear activity and 10 star-forming ellipticals or early-type spirals. We examine the spatial distribution of the far-ultraviolet excess in these galaxies, and its correlation with dynamical and stellar population properties of the galaxies. From aperture photometry we find that all galaxies except for recent major remnants and galaxies with ongoing star formation show a positive gradient in the (FUV−NUV) colour determined from the GALEX images. The logarithmic gradient does not correlate with any stellar population parameter, but it does correlate with the central velocity dispersion. The strength of the excess on the other hand correlates with both [α/Fe] and [Z/H], but more strongly with the former. We derive models of the underlying stellar population from the 2MASS H-band images, and the residual of the image from this model reveals a map of the centrally concentrated FUV excess. We examine a possible hypothesis for generating the FUV excess and the radial gradient in its strength, involving a helium abundance gradient set up early in the formation process of the galaxies. If this hypothesis is correct, the persistence of the gradients to the present day places a strong limit on the importance of dry mergers in the formation of ellipticals.

AN ULTRAVIOLET STUDY OF STAR-FORMING REGIONS IN M31

We present a comprehensive study of star-forming (SF) regions in the nearest large spiral galaxy M31. We use Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) far-UV (1344-1786 A, FUV) and near-UV (1771-2831 A, NUV) imaging to detect young massive stars and trace the recent star formation across the galaxy. The FUV and NUV flux measurements of the SF regions, combined with ground-based data for estimating the reddening by interstellar dust from the massive stars they contain, are used to derive their ages and masses. The GALEX imaging, combining deep sensitivity and coverage of the entire galaxy, provides a complete picture of the recent star formation in M31 and its variation with environment throughout the galaxy. The FUV and NUV measurements are sensitive to detect stellar populations younger than a few hundred Myr. We detected 894 SF regions, with size ≥ 1600 pc2 above an average FUV flux limit of ~26 ABmag arcsecond–2, over the whole 26 kpc (radius) galaxy disk. We derive the star formation history of M31 within this time span. The star formation rate (SFR) from the youngest UV sources (age ≤ 10 Myr) is comparable to that derived from Hα, as expected. We show the dependence of the results on the assumed metallicity. When star formation detected from IR measurements of the heated dust is added to the UV-measured star formation (from the unobscured populations) in the recent few Myr, we find the SFR has slightly decreased in recent epochs, with a possible peak between 10 and 100 Myr, and an average value of SFR ~0.6 or 0.7 M ☉ yr–1 (for metallicity Z = 0.02 or 0.05, respectively) over the last 400 Myr.

GOALS: The Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey

ABSTRACT The Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) combines data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, Chandra X-Ray Observatory, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) observatories, together with ground-based data, into a comprehensive imaging and spectroscopic survey of over 200 low-redshift (z < 0.088), Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs). The LIRGs are a complete subset of the IRAS Revised Bright Galaxy Sample (RBGS), which comprises 629 extragalactic objects with 60 μm flux densities above 5.24 Jy, and Galactic latitudes above five degrees. The LIRGs targeted in GOALS span the full range of nuclear spectral types defined via traditional optical line-ratio diagrams (type-1 and type-2 AGN, LINERs, and starbursts) as well as interaction stages (major mergers, minor mergers, and isolated galaxies). They provide an unbiased picture of the processes responsible for enhanced infrared emission in galaxies in the local Universe. As an example of the analytic power of the multiwavelength GOALS data set, we present Spitzer, Chandra, HST, and GALEX images and spectra for the interacting system VV 340 (IRAS F14547 + 2449). The Spitzer MIPS imaging data indicates that between 80–95% of the total far-infrared emission (or about 5 × 1011 L ⊙) originates in VV 340 north. While the Spitzer IRAC colors of VV 340 north and south are consistent with star-forming galaxies, both the Spitzer IRS and Chandra ACIS data indicate the presence of an AGN in VV 340 north. The observed line fluxes, without correction for extinction, imply that the AGN accounts for less than 10%–20% of the observed infrared emission. The X-ray data are consistent with a heavily absorbed (N H ≥1024 cm-2) AGN. The GALEX far and near-UV fluxes imply a extremely large infrared “excess” (IRX) for the system (FIR/Ffuv ∼ 81) which is well above the correlation seen in starburst galaxies. Most of this excess is driven by VV 340 N, which has an IR excess of nearly 400. The VV 340 system seems to be comprised of two very different galaxies: an infrared luminous edge-on galaxy (VV 340 north) that dominates the long-wavelength emission from the system, which hosts a buried AGN; and a face-on starburst (VV 340 south) that dominates the short-wavelength emission.

EVOLUTION OF THE UV EXCESS IN EARLY-TYPE GALAXIES

We examine the UV emission from luminous early-type galaxies as a function of redshift. We perform a stacking analysis using Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) images of galaxies in the NOAO Deep Wide Field Survey (NDWFS) Bo\"otes field and examine the evolution in the UV colors of the average galaxy. Our sample, selected to have minimal ongoing star formation based on the optical to mid-IR SEDs of the galaxies, includes 1843 galaxies spanning the redshift range $0.05\leq z\leq0.65$. We find evidence that the strength of the UV excess decreases, on average, with redshift, and our measurements also show moderate disagreement with previous models of the UV excess. Our results show little evolution in the shape of the UV continuum with redshift, consistent either with the binary model for the formation of Extreme Horizontal Branch (EHB) stars or with no evolution in EHB morphology with look-back time. However, the binary formation model predicts that the strength of the UV excess should also be relatively constant, in contradiction with our measured results. Finally, we see no significant influence of a galaxy's environment on the strength of its UV excess.

Ongoing Formation of Bulges and Black Holes in the Local Universe: New Insights from GALEX

We analyze a volume-limited sample of massive bulge-dominated galaxies with data from both the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite. The galaxies have central velocity dispersions greater than 100 km s^(−1) and stellar surface mass densities that lie above the value where galaxies transition from actively star-forming to passive systems. The sample is limited to redshifts 0.03 < z < 0.07. At these distances, the SDSS spectra sample the light from the bulge-dominated central regions of the galaxies. The GALEX NUV data provide high sensitivity to low rates of global star formation in these systems. Our sample of bulge-dominated galaxies exhibits a much larger dispersion in NUV − r color than in optical g − r color. The dispersion increases for galaxies with smaller central velocity dispersions, and nearly all of the galaxies with bluer NUV − r colors are active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Both GALEX images and SDSS color profiles demonstrate that the excess UV light is nearly always associated with an extended disk. When comparing fiber-based estimates of stellar age to global ones, we find that galaxies with red outer regions almost never have a young bulge or a strong AGN. Galaxies with blue outer regions have bulges and black holes that span a wide range in age and accretion rate. Galaxies with young bulges and strongly accreting black holes almost always have blue outer disks. The black hole growth rate correlates much more strongly with the age of the stars in the bulge than in the disk. Our suggested scenario is one in which the source of gas that builds the bulge and black hole is a low-mass reservoir of cold gas in the disk. The presence of this gas is a necessary but not sufficient condition for bulge and black hole growth. Some mechanism must transport this gas inward in a time variable way. The disk gas itself is likely to be the result of the accretion of gas from an external source. As the gas in the disk is converted into stars, galaxies will turn red, but further inflow can bring them back into the blue NUV − r sequence.

Large-Amplitude Ultraviolet Variations in the RR Lyrae Star ROTSE-I J143753.84+345924.8

The NASA Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite has obtained simultaneous near-ultraviolet (NUV) and far-ultraviolet (FUV) light curves of the ROTSE-I Catalog RR Lyrae type ab variable star J143753.84+345924.8. A series of 38 GALEX Deep Imaging Survey observations well distributed in phase within the star's 0.56432 day period shows an AB = 4.9 mag variation in the FUV (1350-1750 A) band and an AB = 1.8 mag variation in the NUV (1750-2750 A) band, compared with only a 0.8 mag variation in the broad, unfiltered ROTSE-I (≈4500-10,000 A) band. These GALEX UV observations are the first to reveal a large RR Lyrae amplitude variation at wavelengths below 1800 A. We compare the GALEX and ROTSE-I observations to predictions made by recent Kurucz stellar atmosphere models. We use published physical parameters for the comparable period (0.57433 days), well-observed RR Lyrae star WY Antliae to compute predicted FUV, NUV, and ROTSE-I light curves for J143753.84+345924.8. The observed light curves agree with the Kurucz predictions for [Fe/H] = -1.25 to within AB = 0.2 mag in the GALEX NUV and ROTSE-I bands and to within 0.5 mag in the FUV. At all metallicities between solar and 1/100 solar, the Kurucz models predict 6-8 mag of variation at wavelengths between 1000 and 1700 A. Other variable stars with similar temperature variations, such as Cepheids, should also have large-amplitude FUV light curves, observable during the ongoing GALEX imaging surveys.