J/ApJS/147/1ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJS/147/1doi:10.26093/cds/vizier.21470001CDSConselice C.J.2017-11-06T12:23:46Z2006-05-19T14:36:15ZCDS support team

CDS, Observatoire de Strasbourg, 11 rue de l'Universite, F-67000 Strasbourg, France

cds-question@unistra.frgalaxiesgalaxy-classification-systemsA major problem in extragalactic astronomy is the inability to distinguish in a robust, physical, and model-independent way how galaxy populations are physically related to each other and to their formation histories. A similar, but distinct, and also long-standing question is whether the structural appearances of galaxies, as seen through their stellar light distributions, contain enough physical information to offer this classification. We argue through the use of 240 images of nearby galaxies that three model-independent parameters measured on a single galaxy image reveal its major ongoing and past formation modes and can be used as a robust classification system. These parameters quantitatively measure: the concentration (C), asymmetry (A), and clumpiness (S) of a galaxy's stellar light distribution. When combined into a three-dimensional "CAS" volume all major classes of galaxies in various phases of evolution are cleanly distinguished. We argue that these three parameters correlate with important modes of galaxy evolution: star formation and major merging activity. This is argued through the strong correlation of H{alpha} equivalent width and broadband colors with the clumpiness parameter S, the uniquely large asymmetries of 66 galaxies undergoing mergers, and the correlation of bulge to total light ratios, and stellar masses, with the concentration index. As an obvious goal is to use this system at high redshifts to trace evolution, we demonstrate that these parameters can be measured, within a reasonable and quantifiable uncertainty with available data out to z~3 using the Hubble Space Telescope GOODS ACS and Hubble Deep Field images.2003ApJS..147....1Chttps://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJS/147/1CatalogResearchIsServedByTAP VizieR generic serviceIsServedByConesearch servicehttps://cds.unistra.fr/vizier-org/licences_vizier.htmlhttps://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/ApJS/147/1https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/ApJS/147/1http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/VizieR-2?-source=J/ApJS/147/1https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/ApJS/147/1https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/ApJS/147/1http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/votable?-source=J/ApJS/147/1GETtext/xml+votablehttps://tapvizier.cds.unistra.fr/TAPVizieR/tapCone search capability for table J/ApJS/147/1/table2 (Starburst Galaxies)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table2?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table2?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table2?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true112.359583372.12888890.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/147/1/table3 (Dwarf Ellipticals from Conselice et al., 2003AJ....125...66C)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table3?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table3?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table3?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true49.722916741.53058330.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/147/1/table4 (Dwarf Irregulars from Van Zee, 2000AJ....119.2757V)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table4?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table4?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table4?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true5.021510.87930560.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/147/1/table5 (IRAS Infrared Galaxies)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table5?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table5?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table5?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true2.15825-15.44758330.005555555555555556Cone search capability for table J/ApJS/147/1/table1 (Nearby Normal Galaxies from the Frei Sample, 1996AJ....111..174F)https://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table1?https://vizier.iucaa.in/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table1?http://vizieridia.saao.ac.za/viz-bin/conesearch/J/ApJS/147/1/table1?GETtext/xml+votable180.050000true114.21087565.60266670.0055555555555555566/1701 2130 2169 4038 4149 4412 4415 4511 5067 5142 5202 5469 5492 5545 5572 5581 5587 5596 5629 5715 5746 5751 5966 5995 6034 6098 6255 6443 6619 6696 7022 7385 7424 7552 7602 7604 7606 7659 7743 7891 7957 8042 8195 8196 8320 8327 8359 8673 8908 9277 9361 9770 9800 9855 10265 10475 10601 10607 10637 10704 10723 10765 10769 10817 10841 10911 10935 10941 10977 10991 11000 11101 11127 11263 11389 11448 11566 11612 11639 11696 11719 11790 11791 12231 12372 12615 16024 16478 16615 16624 16641 16650 16695 16697 16707 17149 17170 17263 17266 17733 17745 17949 18081 18260 18287 18315 18378 18429 18649 18717 18807 18831 18895 19125 19570 19730 19758 19779 19990 20065 20090 20177 20393 20400 23910 25083 25438 25513 25599 25972 25997 26090 26119 26148 26298 26303 26313 26336 26472 26937 27113 27199 27255 27383 27512 27514 27515 27604 27653 27718 27719 27728 27739 27743 27757 27764 27765 27773 27828 27857 27861 27862 27908 27913 27914 27917 27918 27926 27931 27937 27938 27942 27945 27955 28015 28035 28037 28038 28039 28045 28123 28173 28208 28496 28521 28529 29937 30956 30970 31081 31880 32282 33545 33770 34020 35821 36415 36497 36505 36526 37506 38919 38924 42243 43365 43389 44671 45054 45587 45973 46967 47051 47328 47388 47569 47957 48497 48865https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/moc/J/ApJS/147/1?format=asciiOpticaldefaultJ/ApJS/147/1/table2Starburst GalaxiesC(R)Concentration of stellar light from R data (1)phys.size;arith.ratiofloatrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintNameGalaxy namemeta.id;meta.maincharMTypeHubble typemeta.notecharBMAGAbsolute B magnitudemagphys.magAbs;em.opt.BfloatA(R)Asymmetric distribution from R datasrc.morph.paramfloate_A(R)rms uncertainty on A(R)stat.errorfloatAG(R)Global asymmetry from R dataspect.line.asymmetryfloate_AG(R)rms uncertainty on AG(R)stat.errorfloatS(R)Clumpiness from R data (G1)stat.fit.paramfloate_S(R)rms uncertainty on S(R)stat.errorfloatSimbadSimbad column added by the CDScharNEDSimbad column added by the CDSchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainJ/ApJS/147/1/table3Dwarf Ellipticals from Conselice et al., 2003AJ....125...66CrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintNameGalaxy namemeta.id;meta.maincharMTypeHubble typemeta.notecharBMAGAbsolute B magnitudemagphys.magAbs;em.opt.BfloatC(R)Concentration of stellar light from R data (1)phys.size;arith.ratiofloatA(R)Asymmetric distribution from R datasrc.morph.paramfloate_A(R)rms uncertainty on A(R)stat.errorfloatAG(R)Global asymmetry from R dataspect.line.asymmetryfloate_AG(R)rms uncertainty on AG(R)stat.errorfloatS(R)Clumpiness from R data (G1)stat.fit.paramfloate_S(R)rms uncertainty on S(R)stat.errorfloatSimbadSimbad column added by the CDScharNEDSimbad column added by the CDSchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainJ/ApJS/147/1/table4Dwarf Irregulars from Van Zee, 2000AJ....119.2757VrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintNameGalaxy namemeta.id;meta.maincharC(B)Concentration of stellar light from B data (1)phys.size;arith.ratiofloatA(B)Asymmetric distribution from B datasrc.morph.paramfloate_A(B)rms uncertainty on A(B)stat.errorfloatAG(B)Global asymmetry from B dataspect.line.asymmetryfloate_AG(B)rms uncertainty on AG(B)stat.errorfloatS(B)Clumpiness from B data (G1)stat.fit.paramfloate_S(B)rms uncertainty on S(B)stat.errorfloatSimbadSimbad column added by the CDScharNEDSimbad column added by the CDSchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainJ/ApJS/147/1/table5IRAS Infrared GalaxiesIRASIRAS namemeta.idcharrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordint[CGW2003]Sequential numbermeta.recordintF[F] for IRAS Faint sources (Cat. II/156)meta.id;meta.datasetcharn_IRAS[d] Note on IRAS (1)meta.notecharzRedshiftsrc.redshiftfloatC(I-V)Concentration of stellar light from I or V data (2) (3)phys.size;arith.ratiofloatA(I-V)Asymmetric distribution from I or V data (2)src.morph.paramfloate_A(I-V)rms uncertainty on A(B)stat.errorfloatAG(I-V)Global asymmetry from I or V data (2)spect.line.asymmetryfloate_AG(I-V)rms uncertainty on AG(B)stat.errorfloatS(I-V)Clumpiness from I or V data (2) (G1)stat.fit.paramfloate_S(I-V)rms uncertainty on S(B)stat.errorfloatSimbadSimbad column added by the CDScharNEDSimbad column added by the CDSchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.mainJ/ApJS/147/1/table1Nearby Normal Galaxies from the Frei Sample, 1996AJ....111..174FrecnoRecord number assigned by the VizieR team. Should Not be used for identification.meta.recordintNameGalaxy namemeta.id;meta.maincharMTypeHubble typemeta.notecharBMAGAbsolute B magnitudemagphys.magAbs;em.opt.BfloatC(R)Concentration of stellar light from R data (1)phys.size;arith.ratiofloatA(R)Asymmetric distribution from R datasrc.morph.paramfloate_A(R)rms uncertainty on A(R)stat.errorfloatAG(R)Global asymmetry from R dataspect.line.asymmetryfloate_AG(R)rms uncertainty on AG(R)stat.errorfloatS(R)Clumpiness from R data (G1)stat.fit.paramfloate_S(R)rms uncertainty on S(R)stat.errorfloatSimbadSimbad column added by the CDScharNEDSimbad column added by the CDSchar_RARight Ascension (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.ra;meta.main_DEDeclination (J2000) from SIMBAD (not part of the original data)degpos.eq.dec;meta.main