VI photometry of Sombrero globular clusters

The GC colour distribution is found to be bimodal at the >99 per cent confidence level, with peaks at (V-I)0=0.96+/-0.03 and 1,21+/-0.03. The inferred metallicities are very similar to those of GCs in our Galaxy and M31.

However, the Sombrero reveals a much enhanced number of red (metal-rich) GCs compared to other well-studied spirals. Because the Sombrero is dominated by a huge bulge and only has a modest disc, we associate the two subpopulations with the halo and bulge components, respectively. Thus our analysis supports the view that the metal-rich GCs in spirals are associated with the bulge rather than with the disc.