BV photometry in Fornax globulars

Using the index B-R/(B+V+R), a measure of the horizontal branch color, we find cluster 1 has a red (-0.50+/-0.10) and cluster 5 an intermediate color (-0.09+/-0.12) horizontal branch confirming the first extragalactic second parameter pair. The HB types are markedly redder than the Galactic globular clusters at [Fe/H]=-2.

In globular cluster 1, we find 21 possible variable stars out of 41 horizontal branch stars. Cluster 1 has an anomalously low ratio of horizontal branch to red giant stars, which formally gives a helium abundance of 0.16<Y<0.22, depending on the assumptions used. For both clusters 1 and 5, and for the red horizontal branch in the field adjacent to cluster 5, V_HB = 21.25 +/- 0.05.