ALFALFA in the Leo Region: Looking for Missing Satellites in HI

TL;DR

This study uses the ALFALFA HI survey to identify low-mass galaxy candidates in the Leo region, comparing HI-selected and optically-selected samples to address the missing satellites problem.

Contribution

It provides a detailed catalog of HI detections in Leo and demonstrates the importance of blind HI surveys in discovering missing satellite galaxies.

Findings

Identification of new HI-rich dwarf galaxy candidates

Comparison reveals differences between HI and optical samples

Highlights the role of HI surveys in solving the missing satellites problem

Abstract

The location of two nearby galaxy groups within ~20 Mpc in the Leo region allows for a detailed study of low-mass galaxies. A catalog of HI line detections in Leo (9h36m < RA <11h36m, +8deg < dec < +16deg) has been made from the blind HI survey ALFALFA. More sensitive single-pixel Arecibo observations targeted Leo dwarf candidates noted optically by Karachentsev et al 2004 (K04) to determine group members and allow for a comparison of HI and optically-selected samples. This presentation highlights the differences between the two samples and the significant contribution blind HI surveys can make to the missing satellites problem.