The giant branch of Leo I
Date
1987
Authors
Fox, Michael Franz
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Abstract
A colour-magnitude diagram down to V=22 is presented for the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I. The morphology of the colour-magnitude diagram is found to be strikingly similar to that of Leo II and Fornax. A prominent, wide giant branch is visible, indicating a spread in metallicity of nearly 1.0 dex, with a mean around [Fe/H]=-1,4. The traditional distance modulus of (m-M)=21,8 is confirmed. Known carbon stars are found to lie at or above the tip of the first giant branch. An asymptotic giant branch is also seen, but the horizontal branch (presumably at V~22.5) is fainter than the limit of the data.