Globular Clusters in the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

In the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy, globular clusters preserve their diffuse spatial distribution despite the fact that the clusters' orbital decay timescale is much shorter than the estimated age of the host galaxy. We propose that this paradox may be resolved if (1) Fornax contains black holes with a sizeable fraction of the mass of these clusters or if (2) it is currently undergoing tidal disruption. For the black hole scenario, a centrally peaked velocity-dispersion distribution is anticipated but has not been observationally confirmed. The second scenario requires Fornax to have lost a significant fraction of its original mass. The second scenario is possible if the mass of the Galactic dark matter is ~10¹² M_☉ out to the present distance of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy or if Fornax is near its apogalacticon and has an orbit similar to that of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The inferred proper motion, ≲016 century^-1, for Fornax and the anticipated stream of tidally stripped stars outside its tidal radius may be used to test this scenario.