Is Draco II one of the faintest dwarf galaxies? First study from Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study provides the first spectroscopic analysis of Draco II, a faint stellar system, revealing its velocity, metallicity, and possible classification as a dwarf galaxy or star cluster, with implications for understanding ultra-faint satellites.

Contribution

First spectroscopic characterization of Draco II, measuring its velocity, metallicity, and dynamics, and assessing its nature as a star cluster or dwarf galaxy.

Findings

Draco II is a satellite of the Milky Way.

Velocity dispersion suggests a dark matter component.

Metallicity indicates a very metal-poor system.

Abstract

We present the first spectroscopic analysis of the faint and compact stellar system Draco II (Dra II, M_V=-2.9+/-0.8, r_h=19^{+8}_{-6} pc), recently discovered in the Pan-STARRS1 3{\pi} survey. The observations, conducted with DEIMOS on the Keck II telescope, establish some of its basic characteristics: the velocity data reveal a narrow peak with 9 member stars at a systemic heliocentric velocity <v_r>=-347.6^{+1.7}_{-1.8} km/s, thereby confirming Dra II is a satellite of the Milky Way; we infer a velocity dispersion with \sigma_{vr}=2.9+/-2.1 km/s (<8.4 km/s at the 95% confidence level), which implies log_{10}(M_{1/2})=5.5^{+0.4}_{-0.6} and log_{10}((M/L)_{1/2})=2.7^{+0.5}_{-0.8}, in Solar units; furthermore, very weak Calcium triplet lines in the spectra of the high signal-to-noise member stars imply [Fe/H]<-2.1, whilst variations in the line strengths of two stars with similar colours and magnitudes suggest a metallicity spread in Dra II. These new data cannot clearly discriminate whether Draco II is a star cluster or amongst the faintest, most compact, and closest dwarf galaxies. However, the sum of the three --- individually inconclusive --- pieces of evidence presented here, seems to favour the dwarf galaxy interpretation.