Title:

Forming Massive Star Clusters in Interacting Galaxies



Christine Wilson
McMaster University



Abstract:

Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed
many examples of young massive star clusters in nearby
galaxies, some of which have masses comparable to those of
globular clusters. Interacting galaxies and merger remnants
seem to be particularly rich in young massive clusters,
although the clusters can be difficult to identify in the
early dusty phases of the merger. In my talk, I will
describe our recent results from a search for massive star
clusters in the nearest ultraluminous infrared galaxy, Arp
220. I will compare optical and millimeter observations of
Arp 220 with similar observations of the Antennae system
(NGC 4038/39) to see what constraints can be placed on the
formation mechanism for young massive star clusters.