Extragalactic star clusters in merging galaxies

Abstract

The study of cluster populations as tracer of galaxy evolution is now quite possible with 8 m class telescopes and modern instrumentation. The cluster population can be used as a good tracer of the star forming episodes undergone by the merging system. We present two young galaxy mergers, NGC3256 and NGC4038, and the studies on the young cluster populations of those systems. We found that the cluster ages agree with the merger ages and their metallicities are consistent with being the progenitors of the old metal rich globulars in ellipticals. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.