98 globular clusters of NGC 1291 with HST

Candidates have been selected from B, V, and I band images taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, which also reveal 17 younger ({tau}<~fewx100Myr) clusters. The luminosity function shows a peaked shape similar to that found for GC systems in other spiral and elliptical galaxies.

The ancient clusters have a bimodal color distribution, with approximately 65% (35%) of the population having blue (red) colors. The red, presumably metal-rich, GCs are more centrally concentrated, as expected for a bulge population; while the blue, presumably metal-poor, GCs are more broadly distributed, consistent with expectations of a halo population. The specific frequency of GCs in NGC1291 is higher than found previously in most spiral galaxies.