Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2016
Fornax shows a radial age gradient. The old population is the most extended one similar to what was found in other dwarf galaxies, while younger populations are more centrally concentrated. With ≈ −1.2 dex the dominant intermediate-age population is much more metal-rich than the oldest populations traced by Fornax's globular clusters (≈ −2 dex, 15–11 Gyr). Star formation appears to have proceeded continuously with decreasing rates rather than in distinct episodes. Fornax contains the youngest population ever found in a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, 100–200 Myr, which makes its apparent lack of gas even more puzzling.