The disruption of the low-mass globular cluster E3

Abstract

We use {\it Gaia} DR2 photometry and proper motions to search for the hypothetical tidal tails of the Galactic globular cluster E\,3. Using a modified version of a classical decontamination procedure, we are able to identify the presence of an extended structure emerging from the cluster up to $r\sim 1$\,deg from its center, thus suggesting that this poorly studied cluster is undergoing a tidal disruption process. These low surface-brightness structures are aligned with the direction to the Galactic center, as expected for a cluster close to its perigalacticon. Different scenarios to explain the important amount of mass lost by this cluster are discussed.

6 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in MNRAS

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Detecting Globular Cluster Tidal Extensions with Bayesian Inference: I. Analysis of $\omega$ Centauri with Gaia EDR3
• Signatures of tidal disruption in the Milky Way globular cluster NGC 6981 (M72)
• The 800pc long tidal tails of the Hyades star cluster: Possible discovery of candidate epicyclic overdensities from an open star cluster
• Disruption of a Giant: Spectroscopic Identification of Members in the Periphery and Tidal Tails of $\omega$ Centauri