Virgo early-type galaxies optical properties

In galaxy clusters, where they constitute the dominant population in terms of number, they represent the faint end slope of the galaxy luminosity function and provide important insight on the interplay between galaxy mass and environment.

In this study we investigate the optical photometric properties of early-type galaxies (dwarf ellipticals (dEs) and dSphs) in the Virgo cluster core region, by analysing their location on the colour magnitude relation (CMR) and the structural scaling relations down to faint magnitudes, and by constructing the luminosity function to compare it with theoretical expectations.