A Spitzer study of star-forming regions in Virgo Cluster galaxies

TL;DR

This study uses Spitzer 24 micron and H-alpha data to analyze star formation distribution in three Virgo Cluster galaxies, revealing how interactions influence star formation visibility and obscuration.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how galaxy motion and interactions within the cluster environment affect star formation distribution and obscuration levels.

Findings

Unobscured star formation in NGC 4402's outer regions

Obscured star formation in extraplanar regions of NGC 4522

Differences attributed to galaxy motion through the ICM

Abstract

We present a preliminary study of the star formation distribution within three Virgo Cluster galaxies using the 24 micron Spitzer observations from the Spitzer Survey of Virgo (SPITSOV) in combination with H-alpha observations. The purpose of our study is to explore the relationship between the star formation distribution within galaxies and the type (and phase) of interactions experienced within the cluster environment. Neither highly-obscured star formation nor strongly enhanced star-forming regions along the leading edges of galaxies experiencing ICM-ISM interactions were found. However, very unobscured star-forming regions were found in the outer parts of one galaxy (NGC 4402), while relatively obscured star-forming regions were found in the extraplanar regions of another galaxy (NGC 4522). We attribute the observed differences between NGC 4402 and NGC 4522 to the direction of motion of each galaxy through the ICM.