Deep V and K band photometry of the host galaxy of Haro 11

TL;DR

This study provides new deep V and K band photometry of Haro 11, revealing a more typical V-K color that aligns with other blue compact galaxies, indicating an old, metal-poor stellar population.

Contribution

The paper presents the deepest V and K band data for Haro 11, revising its V-K color to a more typical value and challenging previous claims of an extremely red host galaxy.

Findings

Revised V-K color of Haro 11 to 2.3±0.2

Haro 11's color is consistent with other BCGs

Host galaxy likely contains an old, metal-poor stellar population

Abstract

Previous studies of the host galaxy of Haro 11 have suggested an extreme red color of V-K=4.2+-0.8 which cannot be reconciled with any normal stellar population of reasonable metallicity. We present the deepest V and K band data to date of the blue compact galaxy (BCG) Haro 11 and derive a new V-K color for the host. Our new data suggest a much more modest value of V-K=2.3+-0.2, which is in the same range as V-K colors measured for several other BCGs. The new Haro 11 color is not abnormally red and can be attributed to an old metal-poor stellar population with a Salpeter initial mass function.