Abstract
We explore the stellar population of M31 in a Spitzer Space Telescope survey utilizing IRAC and MIPS observations. Red supergiants are the brightest objects seen in the infrared; they are a prominent evolutionary phase. Due to their circumstellar envelopes, many of these radiate the bulk of their luminosity at IRAC wavelengths and do not stand out in the near-infrared or optically. Going fainter, we see large numbers of luminous asymptotic giant branch stars (AGB), many of which are known long-period variables. Relative to M33 the AGB carbon star population of M31 appears sparse, but this needs to be spectroscopically confirmed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 230-241 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 687 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2008 |
Keywords
- Galaxies: individual (M31)
- Galaxies: stellar content