Public Perception of Astronomers: Revered, Reviled and Ridiculed (2009)
Society's view of astronomers has changed over time and from culture to culture. This review discusses some of the many ways that astronomers have been perceived by their societies and suggests ways...
Early assembly of the most massive galaxies (2009)
Collins, Chris A., Stott, John P., Hilton, Matt, Kay, Scott T., Stanford, S. Adam, Davidson, Michael, ...
The current consensus is that galaxies begin as small density fluctuations in the early Universe and grow by in situ star formation and hierarchical merging. Stars begin to form relatively quickly in...
Hilton, Matt, Stanford, S. Adam, Stott, John P., Collins, Chris A., Hoyle, Ben, Davidson, Michael, ...
We present a study of the morphological fractions and color-magnitude relation in the most distant X-ray selected galaxy cluster currently known, XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z=1.46, using a combination of...
Blakeslee, John P., Jordan, Andres, Mei, Simona, Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Infante, Leopoldo, ...
We present g-z color and z-band surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) measurements for 43 early-type galaxies in the Fornax cluster imaged with HST/ACS. These are combined with measurements for Virgo...
The Nature of UCDs: Internal Dynamics from an Expanded Sample and Homogeneous Database (2008)
Mieske, Steffen, Hilker, Michael, Jordan, Andres, Infante, Leopoldo, Kissler-Patig, Markus, Rejkuba, Marina, ...
We have obtained high-resolution spectra of 23 ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) in the Fornax cluster with -10.4>M_V>-13.5 mag (10^6
Peng, Eric W., Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Takamiya, Marianne, West, Michael J., Blakeslee, John P., ...
The fraction of stellar mass contained in globular clusters (GCs), also measured by number as the specific frequency, is a fundamental quantity that reflects both a galaxy's early star formation and...
Sahlén, Martin, Viana, Pedro T. P., Liddle, Andrew R., Romer, A. Kathy, Davidson, Michael, Sabirli, Kivanc, ...
We forecast the constraints on the values of sigma_8, Omega_m, and cluster scaling relation parameters which we expect to obtain from the XMM Cluster Survey (XCS). We assume a flat Lambda-CDM...
Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Jordan, Andres, Blakeslee, John P., Chen, Chin-Wei, Infante, Leopoldo, ...
We analyse HST surface brightness profiles for 143 early-type galaxies in the Virgo and Fornax Clusters. Sersic models provide accurate descriptions of the global profiles with a notable exception:...
The XMM Cluster Survey: The Dynamical State of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z=1.457 (2007)
Hilton, Matt, Collins, Chris A., Stanford, S. Adam, Lidman, Chris, Dawson, Kyle S., Davidson, Michael, ...
We present new spectroscopic observations of the most distant X-ray selected galaxy cluster currently known, XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z=1.457, obtained with the DEIMOS instrument at the W. M. Keck...
Galaxy Orientations in the Coma Cluster (2007)
Torlina, Lisa, De Propris, Roberto, West, Michael J.
We have examined the orientations of early-type galaxies in the Coma cluster to see whether the well-established tendency for brightest cluster galaxies to share the same major axis orientation as...
Jordan, Andres, McLaughlin, Dean E., Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Peng, Eric W., Mei, Simona, ...
We analyze the luminosity function of the globular clusters (GCs) belonging to the early-type galaxies observed in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. We have obtained estimates for a Gaussian...
The ACS Fornax Cluster Survey. I. Introduction to the Survey and Data Reduction Procedures (2007)
Jordan, Andres, Blakeslee, John P., Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Infante, Leopoldo, Mei, Simona, ...
The Fornax Cluster is a conspicuous cluster of galaxies in the southern hemisphere and the second largest collection of early-type galaxies within
Ferrarese, Laura, Cote, Patrick, Blakeslee, John P., Mei, Simona, Merritt, David, West, Michael J.
Recent years have seen dramatic progress in the study of the core and nuclear properties of galaxies. The structure of the cores has been shown to vary methodically with global and nuclear...
Trends in the Globular Cluster Luminosity Function of Early-Type Galaxies (2006)
Jordan, Andres, McLaughlin, Dean E., Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Peng, Eric W., Blakeslee, John P., ...
We present results from a study of the globular cluster luminosity function (GCLF) in a sample of 89 early-type galaxies observed as part of the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. Using a Gaussian...
Mieske, Steffen, Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Kissler-Patig, Markus, Peng, Eric W., Ferrarese, Laura, ...
We examine the correlation between globular cluster (GC) color and magnitude using HST/ACS imaging for a sample of 79 early-type galaxies (-21.7
Shin, Min-Su, Berger, Edo, Penprase, Bryan E., Fox, Derek B., Price, Paul A., Kulkarni, Shri R., ...
We present a high-resolution Keck/ESI spectrum of GRB, which exhibits four absorption systems at z=1.04329, 1.95260, 1.96337, and 1.98691. The two highest redshift systems, separated by about 2400...
Ferrarese, Laura, Cote, Patrick, Bonta, Elena Dalla, Peng, Eric W., Merritt, David, Jordan, Andres, ...
Imaging surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have shown that roughly 50-80% of low- and intermediate-luminosity galaxies contain a compact stellar nucleus at their center, regardless of host...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. VIII. The Nuclei of Early-Type Galaxies (2006)
Cote, Patrick, Piatek, Slawomir, Ferrarese, Laura, Jordan, Andres, Merritt, David, Peng, Eric W., ...
(Abridged) The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey is an HST program to obtain high-resolution, g and z-band images for 100 early-type members of the Virgo Cluster, spanning a range of ~460 in blue luminosity....
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. VI. Isophotal Analysis and the Structure of Early-Type Galaxies (2006)
Ferrarese, Laura, Cote, Patrick, Jordan, Andres, Peng, Eric W., Blakeslee, John P., Piatek, Slawomir, ...
(Abridged) We present a detailed analysis of the morphology, isophotal parameters and surface brightness profiles for 100 early-type members of the Virgo Cluster, from dwarfs (M_B = -15.1 mag) to...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey XI. The Nature of Diffuse Star Clusters in Early-Type Galaxies (2005)
Peng, Eric W., Cote, Patrick, Jordan, Andres, Blakeslee, John P., Ferrarese, Laura, Mei, Simona, ...
We use HST/ACS imaging of 100 early-type galaxies in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey to investigate the nature of diffuse star clusters (DSCs). Compared to globular clusters (GCs), these star clusters...
Peng, Eric W., Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Blakeslee, John P., Ferrarese, Laura, Mei, Simona, ...
We present the color distributions of globular cluster (GC) systems for 100 Virgo cluster early-type galaxies observed in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. The color distributions of individual GC...
The Road Less Traveled: Non-traditional Ways of Communicating Astronomy with the Public (2005)
In an age of media saturation, how can astronomers succeed in grabbing the public's attention to increase awareness and understanding of astronomy? Here I discuss some creative alternatives to press...
Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Blakeslee, John P., Ferrarese, Laura, McLaughlin, Dean E., Mei, Simona, ...
We have measured half-light radii, r_h, for globular clusters (GCs) belonging to the 100 early-type galaxies observed in the ACS Virgo Cluster Survey and the elliptical galaxy NGC 4697. An analysis...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey V: SBF Calibration for Giant and Dwarf Early-type Galaxies (2005)
Mei, Simona, Blakeslee, John P., Tonry, John L., Jordan, Andres, Peng, Eric W., Cote, Patrick, ...
As part of the Advanced Camera for Survey (ACS) Virgo Cluster Survey, we have measured Surface Brightness Fluctuations (SBF) in a sample of 100 early-type Virgo galaxies. Distances derived from these...
Hasegan, Monica, Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Djorgovski, S. G., McLaughlin, Dean E., Blakeslee, John P., ...
We investigate the connection between globular clusters and ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs) by examining the properties of several compact objects associated with M87, all of which were...
Mei, Simona, Blakeslee, John P., Tonry, John L., Jordan, Andres, Peng, Eric W., Cote, Patrick, ...
The Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) Virgo Cluster Survey is a large program to image 100 early-type Virgo galaxies using the F475W and F850LP bandpasses of the Wide Field Channel of the ACS...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey II. Data Reduction Procedures (2004)
Jordan, Andres, Blakeslee, John P., Peng, Eric W., Mei, Simona, Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, ...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey is a large program to carry out multi-color imaging of 100 early-type members of the Virgo Cluster using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space...
XMM Cluster Survey: X-ray source identification using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (2004)
Land, Kate R., Nichol, Robert C., Davidson, Michael, Sabirli, Kivanc, Romer, A. Kathy, Liddle, Andrew R., ...
[ABRIDGED] The XMM Cluster Survey (XCS) is predicted to detect thousands of clusters observed serendipitously in XMM-Newton pointings. We investigate automating optical follow-up of cluster...
Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, Ferrarese, Laura, Blakeslee, John P., Mei, Simona, Merritt, David, ...
The ACIS instrument on board the Chandra X-ray Observatory has been used to carry out the first systematic study of low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in M87. We identify 174 X-ray point-sources, of...
The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. I. Introduction to the Survey (2004)
Cote, Patrick, Blakeslee, John P., Ferrarese, Laura, Jordan, Andres, Mei, Simona, Merritt, David, ...
The Virgo Cluster is the dominant mass concentration in the Local Supercluster and the largest collection of elliptical and lenticular galaxies in the nearby universe. In this paper, we present an...
Reconstructing Galaxy Histories from Globular Clusters (2004)
West, Michael J., Cote, Patrick, Marzke, Ronald O., Jordan, Andres
Nearly a century after the true nature of galaxies as distant "island universes" was established, their origin and evolution remain great unsolved problems of modern astrophysics. One of the most...
The Ghosts of Galaxies: Tidal Debris in Clusters (2003)
Gregg, Michael D., West, Michael J.
Gravitational interactions in rich clusters can strip material from the outer parts of galaxies or even completely disrupt entire systems, giving rise to large scale, low surface brightness ghostly...
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of cD Galaxies and their Globular Cluster Systems (2003)
Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, West, Michael J., Marzke, Ronald O., Minniti, Dante, Rejkuba, Marina
We have used WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope to obtain F450W and F814W images of four cD galaxies (NGC 541 in Abell 194, NGC 2832 in Abell 779, NGC 4839 in Abell 1656 and NGC 7768 in Abell 2666)...
Intergalactic Globular Clusters (2003)
West, Michael J., Cote, Patrick, Ferguson, Henry C., Gregg, Michael D., Jordan, Andres, Marzke, Ronald O., ...
We confirm and extend our previous detection of a population of intergalactic globular clusters in Abell 1185, and report the first discovery of an intergalactic globular cluster in the nearby Virgo...
Cluster--Galaxy Interactions in Coma (2003)
Gregg, Michael D., Holden, Bradford P., West, Michael J.
The galaxies NGC 4911 and 4921 in the Coma cluster provide spectacular examples of luminous, grand design spirals passing through the hot intracluster medium of a rich cluster of galaxies. Chandra...
A Point Source Excess in Abell 1185: Intergalactic Globular Clusters? (2003)
Jordan, Andres, West, Michael J., Cote, Patrick, Marzke, Ronald O.
Deep imaging with WFPC2 and the Hubble Space Telescope has been used to search for a population of intergalactic globular clusters (GCs) belonging to Abell 1185, a richness I cluster at cz = 9800...
The Relative Ages of the Globular Cluster Subpopulations in M87 (2002)
Jordan, Andres, Cote, Patrick, West, Michael J., Marzke, R. O.
Relative ages for the globular cluster (GC) subpopulations in the Virgo giant elliptical galaxy M87 (NGC 4486) have been determined from Stroemgren photometry obtained with WFPC2 on board HST. Using...
Cote, Patrick, West, Michael J., Marzke, R. O.
We analyze the metallicity distributions of globular clusters belonging to 28 early-type galaxies in the survey of Kundu & Whitmore (2001). A Monte Carlo algorithm which simulates the chemical...
Non-thermal X-ray Emission: An Alternative to Cluster Cooling Flows? (2001)
McCarthy, Ian G., West, Michael J., Welch, Gary A.
We report the results of experiments aimed at reducing the major problem with cooling flow models of rich cluster X-ray sources: the fact that most of the cooled gas or its products have not been...
Globular Cluster Population of Hickson Compact Group 22a and 90c (2001)
Barkhouse, Wayne A., West, Michael J., Bothun, Gregory D.
We present the first measurement of the globular cluster populations of galaxies in Hickson compact groups, in order to investigate the effect of these high density environments on the formation and...
Galaxy Deconstruction: Clues from Globular Clusters (2001)
The present-day globular cluster populations of galaxies reflect the cumulative effects of billions of years of galaxy evolution via such processes as mergers, tidal stripping, accretion, and in some...
The Principal Axis of the Virgo Cluster (2000)
West, Michael J., Blakeslee, John P.
Using accurate distances to individual Virgo cluster galaxies obtained by the method of Surface Brightness Fluctuations, we show that Virgo's brightest ellipticals have a remarkably collinear...
Evidence for the Hierarchical Formation of the Galactic Spheroid (1999)
Cote, Patrick, Marzke, Ronald O., West, Michael J., Minitti, Dante
The possibility that the Galactic spheroid was assembled from numerous chemically-distinct, proto-Galactic fragments is investigated using a Monte-Carlo technique designed to simulate the chemical...
Alignments of the Dominant Galaxies in Poor Clusters (1999)
Fuller, Todd M., West, Michael J., Bridges, Terry J.
We have examined the orientations of brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) in poor MKW and AWM clusters and find that, like their counterparts in richer Abell clusters, poor cluster BCGs exhibit a strong...
Galaxy Disruption as the Origin of Intracluster Light in the Coma Cluster (1998)
Gregg, Michael D., West, Michael J.
Although the existence of a faint background of starlight in the core of the Coma cluster has been well established (1,2), its origin is uncertain. This vast sea of stars could have formed outside...
The Formation of Giant Elliptical Galaxies and Their Globular Cluster Systems (1998)
Cote, Patrick, Marzke, Ronald O., West, Michael J.
The bimodal globular cluster (GC) metallicity distributions of many giant elliptical galaxies are often cited as evidence for the formation of such galaxies through mergers involving gas-rich...
The Coma Cluster in Relation to its Environs (1997)
Clusters of galaxies are often embedded in larger-scale superclusters with dimensions of tens or perhaps even hundreds of Mpc. Observational and theoretical evidence suggest an important connection...
Black Holes, Galaxy Formation and the Large-scale Structure of the Universe (1995)
A new model for the formation of active galaxies is described. A key feature of this model is the idea that the birth of black holes in the centers of supergiant galaxies is strongly influenced by...
Intracluster Globular Clusters (1995)
West, Michael J., Cote, Patrick, Jones, Christine, Forman, William, Marzke, Ronald O.
Globular cluster populations of supergiant elliptical galaxies are known to vary widely, from extremely populous systems like that of UGC 9799, the centrally dominant galaxy in Abell 2052, to...
Substructure: Clues to the Formation of Clusters of Galaxies (1995)
West, Michael J., Jones, Christine, Forman, William
We have examined the spatial distribution of substructure in clusters of galaxies using Einstein X-ray observations. Subclusters are found to have a markedly anisotropic distribution that reflects...
Scale and Performance in a Distributed File System (1988)
John H. Howard, Michael L. Kazar, Sherri G. Menees, A. Nichols, M. Satyanarayanan, Robert N. Sidebotham, ...
The Andrew File System is a location-transparent distributed tile system that will eventually span more than 5000 workstations at Carnegie Mellon University. Large scale affects performance and...
Scale and Performance in a Distributed File System (1988)
Michael L. Kazar, Sherri G, David A. Nichols, M. Satyanarayanan, Robert N. Sidebotham, ...
Symptoms, and Software Fault Tolerance in the