The Moon behind the finger. Detection of the Canis Major galaxy in the background of galactic open clusters

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  • 5 November 2003
Abstract
We report on the detection of Main Sequence and evolved stars belonging to the newly discovered Canis Major galaxy in the background of the open clusters NGC 2477, Tombaugh 1 and Berkeley 33. From the Color Magnitude Diagram of the galaxy as it appear in the background of NGC 2477 we derive a distance modulus (m-M)_0=14.6 +/- 0.3, a mean metallicity in the range -0.7<= [M/H]= 0.0 and a mean age in the range ~ 2-7 Gyr for the stellar population that dominates the stellar content of the galaxy. A blue plume of likely younger stars (age < 1 Gyr) is also detected. Exploring the populations in the background of other open clusters we conclude that the stellar density of Canis Major drops by at least a factor 3-5 going from b= -6 deg to b= -15 deg, in the longitude range 200 <= l <= 260 deg. The position, distance and stellar population of the old open clusters AM-2 and Tombaugh~2 strongly suggest that they are physically associated with the Canis Major galaxy.

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