The complex star cluster system of NGC 1316 (Fornax A)

TL;DR

This study analyzes the complex star cluster system of NGC 1316 using high-quality photometry and spectroscopy, revealing four distinct populations with varying ages, chemical properties, and spatial distributions.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes four different stellar cluster populations in NGC 1316, including a previously unconfirmed young population around 1 Gyr old.

Findings

Detection of four stellar cluster populations with distinct properties.

Identification of a young (~1 Gyr) cluster population.

Confirmation of old and intermediate-age populations in NGC 1316.

Abstract

This paper presents Gemini-$gri'$ high quality photometry for cluster candidates in the field of NGC 1316 (Fornax A) as part of a study that also includes GMOS spectroscopy. A preliminary discussion of the photometric data indicates the presence of four stellar cluster populations with distinctive features in terms of age, chemical abundance and spatial distribution. Two of them seem to be the usually old (metal poor and metal rich) populations typically found in elliptical galaxies. In turn, an intermediate-age (5 Gyr) globular cluster population is the dominant component of the sample (as reported by previous papers). We also find a younger cluster population with a tentative age of $\approx$ 1 Gyr.