The halo of M49 and its environment as traced by planetary nebulae

Abstract

The galaxy M49 (NGC 4472) is the brightest early-type galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. It is located in Subcluster B and has an unusually blue, metal-poor outer halo. Planetary nebulae (PNe) are excellent tracers of diffuse galaxy and intragroup light. We present a photometric survey of PNe in the galaxy's extended halo to characterise its PN population, as well as the surrounding intragroup light (IGL) of the Subcluster B. PNe were identified based on their bright [OIII]5007 Å emission and absence of a broad-band continuum. We identify 738 PNe out to a radius of 155 kpc from M49's centre from which we define a complete sample of 624 PNe within a limiting magnitude of m_5007=28.8. Comparing the PN number density to the broad-band stellar surface brightness profile, we find a variation of the PN-specific frequency (alpha-parameter) with radius. The outer halo beyond 60 kpc has a 3.2 times higher alpha-parameter compared to the main galaxy halo, which is likely due to contribution from the surrounding blue IGL. We use the Planetary Nebulae Luminosity Function (PNLF) as an indicator of distance and stellar population. Its slope, which correlates empirically with galaxy type, varies within the inner halo. In the eastern quadrant of M49, the PNLF slope is shallower, indicating an additional localised, bright PN population following an accretion event, likely that of the dwarf irregular galaxy VCC1249. We also determined a distance modulus of mu = 31.29+/-0.08 for M49, corresponding to a physical distance of 18.1+/-0.6 Mpc, which agrees with a recent surface-brightness fluctuations distance. The PN populations in the outer halo of M49 are consistent with the presence of a main Sersic galaxy halo with a slight (B-V) colour gradient of 10${}^{-4}$ mag/arcsec surrounded by intragroup light with a very blue colour of (B-V)=0.25 and a constant surface brightness mu_V=28.0 mag/arcsec${}^2$.

17 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in A&A

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• Planetary Nebula Luminosity Function distances for 19 galaxies observed by PHANGS-MUSE
• Three dynamically distinct stellar populations in the halo of M49
• Kinematics of the diffuse intragroup and intracluster light in groups and clusters of galaxies in the Local Universe within 100 Mpc distance
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• The halo of M105 and its group environment as traced by planetary nebula populations: II. Using kinematics of single stars to unveil the presence of intragroup light around the Leo I galaxies NGC 3384 and M105
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• The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS) VIII. Diffuse dust in the Virgo intra-cluster space
• Planetary Nebulae Research: Past, Present, and Future
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• A meta-analysis of distance measurements to M87
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• The Fornax3D project: Planetary nebulae catalogue and independent distance measurements to Fornax cluster galaxies