Abstract
We present the first high resolution spectra of individual stars in the dwarf irregular galaxy, NGC6822. The spectra of the two A-type supergiants were obtained at the VLT and Keck Observatories, using UVES and HIRES, respectively. The mean iron abundance from these two stars is < [Fe/H] > = - 0.49+/-0.22. This confirms that NGC6822 has a metallicity that is slightly higher than that of the SMC. The mean stellar oxygen abundance, 12 + log(O/H) = 8.36+/-0.19, which is in good agreement with the nebular oxygen results. Oxygen has the same underabundance as iron, < [O/Fe] > = + 0.02+/-0.20. This O/Fe ratio is very similar to that seen in the Magellanic Clouds, which supports the picture that chemical evolution occurs more slowly in these lower mass galaxies. Combining all of the oxygen abundance information for NGC6822 shows that there is no trend in oxygen with galactocentric distance. However, a subset of the highest quality data are consistent with a radial abundance gradient.
