9192(  1) - 12/20/00 23:37  - [  1]

    PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS   ST ScI Use Only
                                                       ID:      9192
                                                       Version: 1
                                                       Check-in Date: 20-Dec-2000
                                                                      23:28:32

1.Proposal Title:
Are Young Globular Clusters Forming in Quiescent Spiral Galaxies?
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2. Proposal For  3. Cycle
AR               10
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4. Investigators
                                                                                     Contact?
    PI: Rupali Chandar                    The Johns Hopkins University
   CoI: Dr. Luciana Bianchi               The Johns Hopkins University                  N
   CoI: Prof. Holland Ford                The Johns Hopkins University                  N

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5. Abstract

Systems of globular clusters (GC) in nearby ellipticals and spirals, and systems of
young GCs in starburst and merging galaxies have been the subject of intensive study
in recent years, because they provide important clues to galaxy formation and
evolution. However, because young massive clusters (YMC) are rare in the Milky Way,
these have not been studied in quiescent spirals until very recently. The ground
based work of Larsen & Richtler (1999) suggests that we need to revise our
understanding of the conditions necessary for the formation of massive, compact
young clusters. We propose to use archival HST WFPC2 observations of 11 nearby, non-
interacting late type galaxies, covering a range of Hubble types to: ( i.) determine
whether YMC have physical and structural properties similar to ancient globulars; (
ii.) differentiate between cluster systems which formed in a burst, and those which
formed continuously, ( iii.) determine whether YMC systems are preferentially formed
in later-type spirals; ( iv.) look for differences in structural parameters of
clusters in rich vs. poor systems, which constrain cluster formation mechanisms.
Further, these data will allow us to find more intermediate mass (so-called
``populous'') clusters, which have not been studied in galaxies beyond the Local
Group. If these are found in large numbers, this may represent a relatively common
(albeit quiescent) mode of cluster formation.
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                                                9192(  1) - 12/20/00 23:37  - [  2]

            Summary Form for Proposal  9192

  Item                         Used in this proposal
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  Proposal Category            AR
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