THE GLOBULAR CLUSTER SYSTEM IN M87: A WIDE-FIELD STUDY WITH CFHT/MEGACAM**This research used the facilities of the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre operated by the National Research Council of Canada with the support of the Canadian Space Agency. Based on observations obtained at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) which is operated by the National Research Council of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l'Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France, and the University of Hawaii.

Abstract

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Megacam data in (g′, r′, i′) are used to obtain deep, wide-field photometry of the globular cluster system (GCS) around M87. A total of 6200 GCs brighter than i′ = 23.0 (roughly equivalent to MI = −8.5) are included in the study, essentially containing almost the entire bright half of the total GC population in the galaxy. The classic bimodal metal-poor and metal-rich sequences of GCs show up clearly. While the …