Mapping Nearby Galaxies with Apache Point Observatory: Group and field galaxies' morphologies in the colour-magnitude plane

TL;DR

This paper uses MaNGA integral field spectroscopy data to analyze how galaxy morphology influences the environmental dependence of galaxy colours and their placement in the colour-magnitude plane, revealing morphology-dependent environmental effects.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between galaxy morphology, environment, and colour-magnitude properties using IFS data, highlighting the role of morphology in environmental dependence.

Findings

Intermediate and Late-type spirals are more common in field environments.

Early-type spirals are predominantly found in groups.

Colour and colour-magnitude relations depend on environment for certain morphologies.

Abstract

This study involves the use of integral field spectroscopy (IFS) data from Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) to investigate whether the morphology influences the environmental dependence of galaxies' colours and the colour-magnitude planes. The galaxies are classified into six morphologies (Elliptical, Lenticular, Early-type, Intermediate-type, Late-type spirals and Irregular) and further in field and group environments. The distributions of colours ($B-V, B-R, u-g, g-r, r-i$ and $i-z$) are compared between field and group environments and then the colour-magnitude planes are analysed. It is observed that Intermediate and Late-types spirals preferentially exist in field environments while Early-type spirals exist in groups. The colours and colour-magnitude planes of Elliptical, Lenticular, Early-type and Intermediate-type spirals depend on the environment while for the Late-type and Irregular galaxies, their dependence on the environment is very weak. The study concludes that the dependence of colours and colour-magnitude planes on the environment is influenced by morphology.