Significance of the First Brightest Galaxies in Rich Clusters
Abstract
The distributions of absolute magnitudes of the first brightest galaxy in rich clusters of galaxies are computed from a model, and compared with the observed distributions of absolute magnitudes of the first brightest galaxy in clusters of three classes of richness. The model is based on the assumption of a luminoofty function for clusters which has a universal form but which allows the masses of clusters to vary. No preference is found for a cluster luminosity function winch is or is not cut off at tbe bright end. A systematic dependence of the average absolute magnitude on richness class is found from the observations, and is predicted by both luminosity functions.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1970
- DOI:
- 10.1086/150314
- Bibcode:
- 1970ApJ...159..333P