SDSS J010826.23-010141.3 , the SIMBAD biblio

Aims. We aim to measure the metallicity distribution and velocity distribution of red giant branch (RGB) stars along the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy (Sgr) streams. Thanks to the large number of stars of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) sample, we can study the properties of streams as a function of the Λ_☉ from the Sgr core.
Methods. Using the ∼22000 RGB stars from the ninth data release of SDSS, we selected 1100 RGB stars belonging to the streams of the Sgr. As compared with red horizontal branch stars (Shi et al.. 2012ApJ...751..130S) the RGB stars constitute a large sample size and extend to a metal-poor component of [Fe/H]~-3.0dex. In particular, this RGB sample has a significant number of stars in the second wrap of the leading stream of the Sgr (leading arm 2), and thus provides a good opportunity to understand the properties of the leading stream.
Results. We derive a metallicity gradient of -(2.3±0.5)x10^–3dex/deg in leading arm 2 for the first time, of -(1.6±0.4)x10^–6dex/deg for the leading arm 1, and of -(1.3±0.3)x10^–3dex/deg for the trailing arm 1. We check the distribution of Sgr stars in phase space and find a velocity dispersion of ∼21.5km/s for leading arm 1. Finally, we identify a possible new branch in leading arm 1.