GBT24B-251

Origins of a new class of stellar system in the Virgo cluster

Abstract

"Blue blobs" are a novel and enigmatic population of stellar systems in the Virgo cluster. These young, star-forming, metal-rich systems contain very few stars (M* < 10^5 Msol) and are remarkably isolated, like tiny blue oases in the enormous red desert of the cluster. They likely formed from stripped gas, but must have traversed 100s of kpc through the hot intra-cluster medium while retaining enough cool gas to form stars. Yet despite their active star formation some appear to be poor in atomic gas, perhaps indicating a turning point in their evolution. We request 42h of GBT time to place tight constraints on the HI gas content of 12 new candidates identified in a citizen science search of Virgo. These observations will be capable of demonstrating that these are HI-poor objects, confirming them as especially peculiar given their ongoing star formation. In addition, we request 6h of JWST time to perform the first ever characterization of the star formation histories of these novel objects. Understanding the interplay between gas and stars in these objects is key to addressing the question of their origin and fate, and this can only be achieved through the combination of deep radio and space-based observations.

Investigators

Name	Institution
Swapnaneel Dey	Arizona, University of
Michael Jones *	Arizona, University of
Nicolas Mazziotti	Arizona, University of
Ananthan Karunakaran	Toronto, University of
Kristine Spekkens	Queen's University
Catherine Fielder	Arizona, University of; Pittsburgh, University of
Paul Bennet	Space Telescope Science Institute
Burcin Mutlu-Pakdil	Dartmouth College
Denija Crnojevic	Texas Tech University; Tampa, University of
David Sand	Arizona, University of; Texas Tech University

* indicates the PI