A common colour-magnitude relation from giant elliptical galaxies to globular clusters?

TL;DR

This paper explores whether a unified colour-magnitude relation exists across a wide range of stellar systems, from giant elliptical galaxies to globular clusters, indicating a possible common evolutionary process.

Contribution

It investigates the potential existence of a universal colour-magnitude relation spanning diverse stellar systems, which has implications for galaxy and star cluster formation theories.

Findings

Evidence suggests a continuous colour-magnitude relation across systems.

The relation extends over a 14 magnitude range.

Implications for common formation mechanisms across different objects.

Abstract

We discuss the existence of a common colour-magnitude relation (CMR) of metal-poor globular clusters and early-type galaxies, i.e. giant ellipticals, normal ellipticals and lenticulars, dwarf ellipticals and lenticulars, and dwarf spheroidals. Such CMR would cover a range of ~ 14 mag, extending from the brightest galaxies, down to the globular clusters on the fainter side.