Global Properties of `Ordinary' Early-type Galaxies: photometry and
  spectroscopy of stars and globular clusters in NGC 4494
  We present a comprehensive analysis of the spatial, kinematic, and chemical
properties of stars and globular clusters (GCs) in the `ordinary' elliptical
galaxy NGC 4494 using data from the Keck and Subaru telescopes. We derive
galaxy surface brightness and colour profiles out to large galactocentric
radii. We compare the latter to metallicities derived using the near-infrared
Calcium Triplet. We obtain stellar kinematics out to ~3.5 effective radii. The
latter appear flattened or elongated beyond ~1.8 effective radii in contrast to
the relatively round photometric isophotes. In fact, NGC 4494 may be a
flattened galaxy, possibly even an S0, seen at an inclination of ~45 degrees.
We publish a catalogue of 431 GC candidates brighter than i=24 based on the
photometry, of which 109 are confirmed spectroscopically and 54 have measured
spectroscopic metallicities. We also report the discovery of 3
spectroscopically confirmed ultra-compact dwarfs around NGC 4494 with measured
metallicities of -0.4<[Fe/H]<-0.3. Based on their properties, we conclude that
they are simply bright GCs. The metal-poor globular clusters are found to be
rotating with similar amplitude as the galaxy stars, while the metal-rich
globular clusters show marginal rotation. We supplement our analysis with
available literature data and results. Using model predictions of galaxy
formation, and a suite of merger simulations, we find that many of the
observational properties of NGC 4494 may be explained by formation in a
relatively recent gas-rich major merger. Complete studies of individual
galaxies incorporating a range of observational avenues and methods such as the
one presented here will be an invaluable tool for constraining the fine details
of galaxy formation models, especially at large galactocentric radii.
