Long Tidal Tails of NGC 5024 Hidden in LMS-1 and NGC 5053 Tidal Streams

We report the discovery of long tidal tails associated with the globular cluster (GC) NGC 5024. A modified matched filter applied to Gaia DR3 data reveals a broad stellar stream spanning alpha about 230-175. The stellar stream overlaps on the sky with the LMS-1 and with the simulated stream of the GC NGC 5053, and all three share similar proper motions and metallicity. Our member candidates may therefore be a mixture of stars from NGC 5024, NGC 5053, and LMS-1. Nevertheless, the trailing tail extends roughly 20 beyond the known LMS-1 stream. Furthermore, the radial velocity (RV) as a function of alpha is used to distinguish the genuine stream candidates of NGC 5024 from the streams of NGC 5053 and LMS-1. Among the sources in common with DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) DR1, we found two distinct sequences in RV- alpha plane, corresponding to the stellar streams of NGC 5024 and NGC 5053 (or LMS-1), respectively. This constitutes the first strong evidence for the existence of extensive tidal tails around NGC 5024.