Projeto Observacional para 2007B - SO2007B-007

Autor: João Francisco C. Santos Jr
Instituição: UFMG
e-mail: jsantos@ctio.noao.edu

Co-autores:
Alex A. Schmidt
Eduardo Bica
Tiago Saurin
Igor A.C. Melnick

Título: Probing binary/merger star cluster systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Resumo: We propose to study a sample of binary star clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud which are believed to be binary/merger systems. Significant deviations in the surface density profile should occur for binary clusters in the process of merging. Taking advantage of SOAR high spatial resolution, profiles will be built from BV SOI images to reveal merger signatures. We will also be able to determine the properties of the stellar populations by constructing color-magnitude diagrams for spatially selected regions of the merging systems. In addition, stellar number density profiles will help to characterize the clusters structure at different mass ranges as constrained by the color-magnitude analysis. This is a continuation of the SOAR 2007A proposal "Probing binary/merger star cluster systems in the Magellanic Clouds" in which the targets were Large Magellanic Cloud objects.