Title: Star Cluster Formation in the Interacting Spiral Galaxy M51
Author(s): Narae Hwang, Myung Gyoon Lee
Abstract:
We present a study on the the age and mass distribution of star clusters 
in the interacting galaxy M51 using a catalog of about 3600 star clusters 
in M51 compiled by Hwang & Lee (2008) based on the Hubble Space Telescope 
(HST) image data. We have confirmed the increased star cluster formation
at about 200 - 300 Myr ago suggesting that the cluster formation was
enhanced around the dynamical interactions between NGC 5194 and NGC 5195 
in M51. We will discuss the distinct properties of star clusters formed 
at different epochs, the distribution of faint fuzzy clusters in NGC 5195,
and possible opportunies of Subaru-Gemini spectroscopic observations
to study the chemical and kinematical properties of star clusters
in the context of the dynamical interactions of M51.