Related papers: Is HCG31 undergoing a merger or a fly-by interacti…

While most galaxies live in group environments where they undergo an accelerated evolution, the characteristics of their circumgalactic medium (CGM) remain uncertain. We present an analysis of the CGM of two galaxy groups in different…

Compact groups have high galaxy densities and low velocity dispersions, and their group members have experienced numerous and frequent interactions during their lifetimes. They provide a unique environment to study the evolution of…

In hierarchical cosmological models, galaxies grow in mass through the continual accretion of smaller ones. The tidal disruption of these systems is expected to result in loosely bound stars surrounding the galaxy, at distances that reach…

(Abridged) We present a new high-resolution (7 km/s FWHM) echelle spectrum of 3C 351 obtained with STIS. 3C 351 lies behind the low-latitude edge of high-velocity cloud Complex C, and the new spectrum provides accurate measurements of O I,…

We present the analysis of a survey of atomic and molecular gas in interacting and merging galaxies (Horellou & Booth 1997). The sample is optically selected and contains all interacting galaxies (~ 60 systems) in a well-defined region of…

Mergers between a spiral and an elliptical (S+E mergers) are poorly studied so far despite the importance for galaxy evolution. NGC4441 is a nearby candidate for an advanced remnant of such a merger, showing typical tidal structures like an…

It has been suggested that fossil groups could be the cannibalized remains of compact groups, that lost energy through tidal friction. However, in the nearby universe, compact groups which are close to the merging phase and display a wealth…

Compact groups are associations of a few galaxies in which the environment plays an important role in galaxy evolution. The low group velocity dispersion favors tidal interactions and mergers, which may bring stars from galaxies to the…

Compact groups of galaxies provide a unique environment to study the mechanisms by which star formation occurs amid continuous gravitational encounters. We present 2MASS (JHK), Spitzer IRAC (3.5-8 micron) and MIPS (24 micron) observations…

Isolated compact groups of galaxies (CGs) present a range of dynamical states, group velocity dispersions, and galaxy morphologies with which to study galaxy evolution, particularly the properties of gas both within the galaxies and in the…

We investigate the interaction history of the M31 sub-group of galaxies by comparing surface photometry of its two nearest satellites, M32 and NGC 205, with N-body simulations of satellite destruction. The recent discovery of a giant stream…

We present the results of a new spectroscopic and photometric survey of the central region of the galaxy cluster A3921 (z=0.094). We detect the presence of two dominant clumps of galaxies: a main cluster centred on the BCG (A3921-A), and a…

We propose that the rotational kinematics of the globular cluster system (GCS) in M31 can result from a past major merger event that could have formed its bulge component. We numerically investigate kinematical properties of globular…

We present a new sample of bright galaxy pairs extracted applying an objective selection code to UZC catalog.The sample is volume limited to M$_{zw}$ = -18.9 +5 log ${\it h}$ and contains 89 galaxy pairs.We analyze the kinematical,…

We have undertaken high-resolution follow-up of a sample of high velocity HI clouds apparently associated with M31. Our sample was chosen from the population of high-velocity clouds (HVCs) detected out to 50 kpc projected radius of the…

Mergers of and interactions between galaxies imprint a wide diversity of morphological, dynamical, and chemical characteristics in stellar halos and tidal streams. Measuring these characteristics elucidates aspects of the progenitors of the…

Multi-wavelength observations of Hickson's Compact Groups (HCGs) have shown that many of these groups are physical bound structures and are in different stage of evolution, from spiral-dominated systems to almost merged objects. Very few…

We present new Gemini spectra of 14 new objects found within the HI tails of Hickson Compact Groups 92 and 100. Nine of them are GALEX Far-UV (FUV) and Near-UV (NUV) sources. The spectra confirm that these objects are members of the compact…

The numerous streams in the M31 halo are currently assumed to be due to multiple minor mergers. Here we use the GADGET2 simulation code to test whether M31 could have experienced a major merger in its past history. It results that a…

We present moderate-resolution spectroscopy of globular clusters (GCs) around the Sa/Sb spiral galaxy M81 (NGC 3031). Sixteen candidate clusters were observed with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph on the Keck I telescope. All are…