Stellar Population of the Irregular Galaxy IC 10

TL;DR

This study uses observations from the BTA telescope and Hubble to analyze stellar populations, distances, and structural features of the irregular galaxy IC 10, revealing its metallicity, star clusters, and galaxy size.

Contribution

It provides new measurements of distance, metallicity, and detailed stellar population analysis of IC 10 using combined observational data.

Findings

Distance modulus of 24.47 with D=780±40 kpc

Identification of 57 star clusters with varied ages and masses

IC 10 has enhanced metallicity and a thick disk of 10.5 arcminutes

Abstract

Based on our observations with the 6-m BTA telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory, the Russian Academy of Sciences, and archival Hubble Space Telescope images, we have performed stellar photometry for several regions of the irregular galaxy IC 10, a member of the Local Group. Distance moduli with a median value of (m-M)=24.47, D=780+/-40 kpc, have been obtained by the TRGB method for several regions of IC 10. We have revealed 57 star clusters with various masses and ages within the fields used. Comparison of the Hertzsprung - Russell diagrams for star clusters in IC 10 with theoretical isochrones has shown that this galaxy has an enhanced metallicity, which probably explains the high ratio of the numbers of carbon and nitrogen Wolf-Rayet stars (WC/WN). The size of the galaxy's thick disk along its minor axis is 10'.5 and a more extended halo is observed outside this disk.