We measure the morphology-density relation ( MDR) and morphology-radius relation (MRR) for galaxies in seven z $ 1 clusters that have been observed with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope. Simulations and independent comparisons of our visually derived morphologies indicate that ACS allows one to distinguish between E, S0, and spiral morphologies down to z 850 ¼ 24, corresponding to L /L Ã ¼ 0:21 and 0.30 at z ¼ 0:83 and 1.24, respectively. We adopt density and radius estimation methods that match those used at lower redshift in order to study the evolution of the MDR and MRR. We detect a change in the MDR between 0:8 < z < 1:2 and that observed at z $ 0, consistent with recent work; specifically, the growth in the bulge-dominated galaxy fraction, f EþS0 , with increasing density proceeds less rapidly at z $ 1 than it does at z $ 0. At z $ 1 and AE ! 500 galaxies Mpc À2 , we find h f EþS0 i ¼ 0:72 AE 0:10. At z $ 0, an E+S0 population fraction of this magnitude occurs at densities about 5 times smaller. The evolution in the MDR is confined to densities AE k 40 galaxies Mpc À2 and appears to be primarily due to a deficit of S0 galaxies and an excess of Sp+Irr galaxies relative to the local galaxy population. The f E -density relation exhibits no significant evolution between z ¼ 1 and 0. We find mild evidence to suggest that the MDR is dependent on the bolometric X-ray luminosity of the intracluster medium. Implications for the evolution of the disk galaxy population in dense regions are discussed in the context of these observations.

We analyze deep multicolor Advanced Camera images of the largest known gravitational lens, A1689. Radial and tangential arcs delineate the critical curves in unprecedented detail, and many small counterimages are found near the center of mass. We construct a flexible light deflection field to predict the appearance and positions of counterimages. The model is refined as new counterimages are identified and incorporated to improve the model, yielding a total of 106 images of 30 multiply lensed background galaxies, spanning a wide redshift range, 1:0 < z < 5:5. The resulting mass map is more circular in projection than the clumpy distribution of cluster galaxies, and the light is more concentrated than the mass within r < 50 kpc h À1 . The projected mass profile flattens steadily toward the center with a shallow mean slope of dlog AE=dlog r ' À0:55 AE 0:1, over the observed range r < 250 kpc h À1 , matching well an NFW profile, but with a relatively high concentration, C vir ¼ 8:2 þ2:1 À1:8 . A softened isothermal profile (r core ¼ 20 AE 2 00 ) is not conclusively excluded, illustrating that lensing constrains only projected quantities. Regarding cosmology, we clearly detect the purely geometric increase of bend angles with redshift. The dependence on the cosmological parameters is weak owing to the proximity of A1689, z ¼ 0:18, constraining the locus, M þ Ã 1:2. This consistency with standard cosmology provides independent support for our model, because the redshift information is not required to derive an accurate mass map. Similarly, the relative fluxes of the multiple images are reproduced well by our best-fitting lens model.

We present Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys multicolor coronagraphic images of the recently discovered edge-on debris disk around the nearby (∼ 10 pc) M dwarf AU Microscopii. The disk is seen between r =0. ′′ 75 -

Deep V and I CCD images in a central and an outer field of the Local Group dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 147 have been obtained with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera-2 (WFPC2) on board of the Hubble Space Telescope. The color-magnitude diagram shows a number of interesting features, including a well defined red giant branch (RGB), a red horizontal branch (HB), a strong red clump, and a small number of extended asymptotic giant branch (EAGB) stars. A mean distance modulus of (m-M) 0 =24.39 is derived based on both the HB and the RGB tip brightness. The metallicity [Fe/H] as determined from the RGB color has a mean value of-0.91 in the central field, and-1.0 in the outer field; and the outer field shows a weak tendency of increasing metallicity with galactocentric radius. A metallicity dispersion is also present in the galaxy, and it shows a clear radial variation in the sense that a larger dispersion is seen at smaller radii. The small population of EAGB stars indicates the presence of intermediate-aged (several Gyr) stars in the galaxy, while the absence of the main sequence stars with M v< 1 shows that star formation ceased at least 1 Gyr ago. The distribution of the EAGB stars indicates that the younger stars are more centrally concentrated than the majority of older stars. A similar age gradient is also implied by the relative distribution of the HB stars, which appear to be more populous at larger radii. These results are considered within the context of theoretical models for the evolution of dwarf elliptical galaxies.

The most massive galaxies and the richest clusters are believed to have emerged from regions with the largest enhancements of mass density relative to the surrounding space. Distant radio galaxies may pinpoint the locations of the ancestors of rich clusters, because they are massive systems associated with 'overdensities' of galaxies that are bright in the Lyman-alpha line of hydrogen. A powerful technique for detecting high-redshift galaxies is to search for the characteristic 'Lyman break' feature in the galaxy colour, at wavelengths just shortwards of Lyalpha, which is due to absorption of radiation from the galaxy by the intervening intergalactic medium. Here we report multicolour imaging of the most distant candidate protocluster, TN J1338-1942 at a redshift z approximately 4.1. We find a large number of objects with the characteristic colours of galaxies at that redshift, and we show that this excess is concentrated around the targeted dominant radio galaxy. Our data therefore indicate that TN J1338-1942 is indeed the most distant cluster progenitor of a rich local cluster, and that galaxy clusters began forming when the Universe was only ten per cent of its present age.