Studying the asymmetry of the GC population of NGC 4261
  We present an analysis of the Globular Cluster (GC) population of the
elliptical galaxy NGC 4261 based on HST WFPC2 data in the B, V and I bands. We
study the spatial distribution of the GCs in order to probe the anisotropy in
the azimuthal distribution of the discrete X-ray sources in the galaxy revealed
by Chandra images (Zezas et al. 2003). The luminosity function of our GC sample
(complete at the 90% level for V_mag = 23.8 mag) peaks at V_mag = 25.1
(-0.6)(+1.0) mag, which corresponds to a distance consistent with previous
measurements. The colour distribution can be interpreted as being the
superposition of a blue and red GC component with average colours V-I = 1.01
(-0.06)(+0.06) mag and 1.27 (-0.08)(+0.06) mag, respectively. This is
consistent with a bimodal colour distribution typical of elliptical galaxies.
The red GC's radial profile is steeper than that of the galaxy surface
brightness, while the profile of the blue subpopulation looks more consistent
with it. The most striking finding is the significant asymmetry in the
azimuthal distribution of the GC population about a NE-SW direction. The lack
of any obvious feature in the morphology of the galaxy suggests that the
asymmetry could be the result of an interaction or a merger.
