Globular Cluster Halos around the brightest Fornax Ellipticals

Abstract

We compare the properties of the globular clusters around NGC 1399, NGC 1404 and NGC 1380, the three brightest early-type galaxies in the center of the Fornax galaxy cluster. The globular cluster systems are qualitatively very similar, pointing to similar mechanisms of formation. However, NGC 1399 host a factor of 10 more globular clusters, while being only 0.3-0.4 mag brighter, than the other two galaxies. Further, the kinematics of the globular clusters around NGC 1399 favor the association of a large fraction of them with the galaxy cluster rather than with the giant elliptical. Globular cluster stripping and accumulation in the center of the cluster seem therefore to have played an important role in building up the high specific frequency of this cD galaxy.