Dynamical Masses of RCS Galaxy Clusters

Abstract

A multi-object spectroscopy follow-up survey of galaxy clusters selected from the Red-sequence Cluster Survey (RCS) is being completed. About forty clusters were chosen with redshifts from 0.15 to 0.6, and in a wide range of richnesses. One of the main science drivers of this survey is a study of internal dynamics of clusters. We present some preliminary results for a subset of the clusters, including the correlation of optical richness with mass, and the mass-to-light ratio as a function of cluster mass.

5 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of IAU Colloquium 195: "Outskirts of Galaxy Clusters: intense life in the suburbs", Torino Italy, March 2004