无恒星星系候选体 Cloud-9 的超深成像

本文报告了对暗星系候选体 Cloud-9 的观测结果，利用 GTC 望远镜的超深成像未探测到相关恒星光。研究通过对该区域的观测设定了极高的面亮度上限，进一步支持了 Cloud-9 作为无恒星星系候选体的结论。

arXiv:2608.20911v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We report the non-detection of stellar light associated with the dark galaxy candidate Cloud-9. Ultra-deep imaging obtained with HiPERCAM at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) reaches surface-brightness limits of 31.4 and 31.0 mag/arcsec$^2$ in g and r, respectively, approximately ten times deeper than previous deep imaging of the region. No stellar emission is detected within the central 1'$\times$1' ($\sim$1.3$\times$1.3 kpc) region of Cloud-9. Assuming an old, metal-poor stellar population, these limits imply a stellar surface mass density of no more than $\sim$0.01 M$_\odot$/pc$^2$ and an upper limit on the total stellar mass of 1.6$\times$10$^4$ M$_\odot$. This independent constraint from integrated light complements previous limits based on resolved-star counts and strengthens the case for Cloud-9 as a candidate starless galaxy.