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Dr Janet Preston


Visiting Research Fellow

Academic and research departments

麻豆视频

Areas of specialism

Galactic archaeology; Stellar streams; Galaxy formation and evolution

Publications

Janet Preston, Denis Erkal, Michelle Collins, Rodrigo A. Ibata, R Michael Rich (2024), In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society537(1)pp. 204-216 Oxford University Press

We present a kinematic and spectroscopic analysis of 40 red giant branch stars, in 9 fields, exquisitely delineating the lower segment of the North West stream (NW-K2), which extends for 鈭80 kpc from the centre of the Andromeda galaxy. We measure the stream鈥檚 systemic velocity as 鈭439.3+4.1 鈭3.8 km s鈭1 with a velocity dispersion =16.4+5.6 鈭3.8 km s鈭1 that is in keeping with its progenitor being a dwarf galaxy. We find no detectable velocity gradient along the stream. We determine 鈭1.3 卤 0.1鈮Fe/H]spec鈮も垝1.2 卤 0.8 but find no metallicity gradient along the stream. We are able to plausibly associate NW-K2 with the globular clusters PAndAS-04, PAndAS-09, PAndAS-10, PAndAS-11, and PAndAS-12 but not with PAndAS-13 or PAndAS-15, which we find to be superimposed on the stream but not kinematically associated with it

Janet Preston, Denis Erkal, Michelle L. M. Collins, R. Michael Rich, Rodrigo Ibata, Maxime Delorme (2024), In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society536(3)pp. 2294-2312 Oxford Univ Press

We present results of our dynamical stream modelling for the North West Stream in the outer halo of the Andromeda galaxy (M31). Comprising two main segments, the North West Stream was thought to be a single structured arching around M31. However, recent evidence suggests that it is two separate, unrelated, streams. To test this hypothesis, we use observational data from six fields associated with the upper segment of the North West Stream together with eight fields and five globular clusters associated with the lower segment to constrain model orbits. We fit both segments of the stream using a fixed potential model for M31 and an orbit integrator to compare orbits with the observed streams. We measure the central tracks and predict proper motions for the upper segment (lower segment) finding mu(& lowast;)(alpha) = 0.078(-0.012)(+0.015) (0.085(-0.002)(+0.001)) mas yr(-1) and mu(delta) = -0.05(-0.009)(+0.008) (-0.095(-0.005)(+0.003)) mas yr(-1). Our results support the hypothesis that the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Andromeda XXVII is the progenitor of the upper segment of the North West Stream and that the upper and lower segments do not comprise a single structure. We propose that the upper segment, which appears to be on an infall trajectory with M31, be renamed the 'Andromeda XXVII Stream' and the lower segment, also apparently infalling towards M31, retain the name 'North West Stream'.

Janet Preston, Michelle L M Collins, Rodrigo A Ibata, Erik J Tollerud, R Michael Rich, Ana Bonaca, Alan W McConnachie, Dougal Mackey, Geraint F Lewis, Nicolas F Martin, Jorge Pe帽arrubia, Scott C Chapman, Maxime Delorme (2019), In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

We present a kinematic and spectroscopic analysis of 38 red giant branch stars, in 7 fields, spanning the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Andromeda XXVII and the upper segment of the North West Stream. Both features are located in the outer halo of the Andromeda galaxy at a projected radius of 50-80 kpc, with the stream extending for 鈭3掳 on the sky. Our data is obtained as part of the PAndAS survey and enables us to confirm that Andromeda XXVII鈥檚 heliocentric distance is 827 卤 47 kpc and spectroscopic metallicity is -2.1+0.4鈭0.5鈦. We also re-derive Andromeda XXVII鈥檚 kinematic properties, measuring a systemic velocity = -526.1+10.0鈭11.0 kms鈭1 and a velocity dispersion that we find to be non-Gaussian but for which we derive a formal value of 27.0+2.2鈭3.9 kms鈭1. In the upper segment of the North West Stream we measure mean values for the metallicity = -1.8卤0.4, systemic velocity = -519.4 卤4.0 kms鈭1 and velocity dispersion = 10.0卤4.0 kms鈭1. We also detect a velocity gradient of 1.7卤0.3 kms鈭1 kpc鈭1 on an infall trajectory towards M31. With a similar gradient, acting in the same direction, in the lower segment we suggest that the North West Stream is not a single structure. As the properties of the upper segment of the North West Stream and Andromeda XXVII are consistent within 90% confidence limits, it is likely that the two are related and plausible that Andromeda XXVII is the progenitor of this stream.

Janet Preston, Michelle Collins, R Michael Rich, Rodrigo Ibata, Nicolas F Martin, Mark Fardal (2021), In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society504(2)pp. 3098-3110 Oxford University Press

We present the first comprehensive spectroscopic study of the Andromeda galaxy鈥檚 Eastern Extent. This 鈭4掳 long filamentary structure, located 70鈥90 kpc from the centre of M31, lies perpendicular to Andromeda鈥檚 minor axis and the Giant Stellar Stream and overlaps Stream C. In this work, we explore the properties of the Eastern Extent to look for possible connections between it, the Giant Stellar Stream and Stream C. We present the kinematics and photometry for 鈭50 red giant branch stars in seven fields along the Eastern Extent. We measure the systemic velocities for these fields and find them to be 鈭368 鈥塳m s鈭1 鈮 vv 鈮 鈭331 鈥塳m s鈭1, with a slight velocity gradient of 鈭0.51 卤 0.21 鈥塳m s鈭1 kpc鈭1 towards the Giant Stellar Stream. We derive the photometric metallicities for stars in the Eastern Extent, finding them to be metal-poor with values of 鈭1.0 鈮 [Fe/H]phot 鈮 鈭0.7 with an 銆圼Fe/H]phot銆 鈭 鈭0.9. We find consistent properties for the Eastern Extent, Stream B and one of the substructures in Stream C, Stream Cr, plausibly linking these features. Stream Cp and its associated globular cluster, EC4, have distinctly different properties indicative of a separate structure. When we compare the properties of the Eastern Extent to those of the Giant Stellar Stream, we find them to be consistent, albeit slightly more metal-poor, such that the Eastern Extent could plausibly comprise stars stripped from the progenitor of the Giant Stellar Stream.

Michelle L M Collins, Erik J Tollerud, R Michael Rich, Rodrigo A Ibata, Nicolas F Martin, Scott C Chapman, Karoline M Gilbert, Janet Preston (2019), In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societystz3252 Oxford University Press (OUP)

With a central surface brightness of 渭0 = 29.3 mag. per sq. arcsec, and half-light radius of rhalf=3.1+0.9鈭1.1kpc, Andromeda XIX (And XIX) is an extremely diffuse satellite of Andromeda. We present spectra for 鈭100 red giant branch stars in this galaxy, plus 16 stars in a nearby stellar stream. With this exquisite dataset, we re-derive the properties of And XIX, measuring a systemic velocity of 藗vr藘 = 鈭 109.0 卤 1.6 kms鈭1 and a velocity dispersion of 蟽vr=7.8+1.7鈭1.5蟽vr=7.8+1.7鈭1.5 kms鈭1(higher than derived in our previous work). We marginally detect a velocity gradient along the major axis of dvd蠂=鈭2.1卤1.8 kms鈭1dvd蠂=鈭2.1卤1.8 kms鈭1kpc鈭1. We find its mass-to-light ratio is higher than galaxies of comparable stellar mass (鈦燵M/L]half=278+146鈭198M鈯/L鈯), but its dynamics place it in a halo with a similar total mass to these galaxies. This could suggest that And XIX is a 鈥減uffed up鈥 dwarf galaxy, whose properties have been altered by tidal processes, similar to its Milky Way counterpart, Antlia II. For the nearby stream, we measure vr = 鈭279.2 卤 3.7 kms鈭1, and 蟽v=13.8+3.5鈭2.6 kms鈭1. We measure its metallicity, and find it to be more metal rich than And XIX, implying that the two features are unrelated. Finally, And XIX鈥檚 dynamical and structural properties imply it is a local analogue to ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs). Its complex dynamics suggest that the masses of distant UDGs measured from velocity dispersions alone should be carefully interpreted.