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| Paper: |
The Local Group: Inventory and History |
| Volume: |
445, Why Galaxies Care about AGB Stars II: Shining Examples and Common Inhabitants |
| Page: |
463 |
| Authors: |
Tolstoy, E. |
| Abstract: |
An overview is presented of what we know about the Local Group
of galaxies, primarily from optical imaging and spectroscopy. AGB
stars are on the whole a very sparse and unrepresentative stellar
population in most Local Group galaxies. However, more detailed
studies of star formation histories and chemical evolution properties
of populations, such as main sequence dwarf stars and red giant branch
stars, allow a better understanding of the evolutionary context in
which AGB stars can be observed. There are a variety of galaxy types
in the Local Group which range from predominantly metal-poor (e.g.
Leo A) to metal-rich (e.g. M 32). Dwarf galaxies are the most
numerous type of galaxy in the Local Group and provide the
opportunity to study a relatively simple, typically metal-poor,
environment that is likely similar to the conditions in the early
history of all galaxies. The range of star formation histories,
peak star formation rates, and metallicities should provide enough
information to properly calibrate observations of AGB stars in more
distant systems, and indeed in integrated spectra. Here I
summarise what we know about the star formation histories of nearby
galaxies and their chemical evolution histories and then attempt to
make a connection to their AGB star properties. |
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