We use Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy to measure the first velocity and metallicity of a dwarf spheroidal ( dSph ) galaxy beyond the Local Group using resolved stars .
Our target , d0944 + 71 , is a faint dSph found in the halo of the massive spiral galaxy M81 by Chiboucas et al .
We coadd the spectra of 27 individual stars and measure a heliocentric radial velocity of -38 \pm 10 { km s ^ { -1 } } .
This velocity is consistent with d0944 + 71 being gravitationally bound to M81 .
We coadd the spectra of the 23 stars that are consistent with being red giant branch stars and measure an overall metallicity of { [ Fe / H ] } = -1.3 \pm 0.3 based on the calcium triplet lines .
This metallicity is consistent with d0944 + 71 following the metallicity - luminosity relation for Local Group dSphs .
We investigate several potential sources of observational bias but find that our sample of targeted stars is representative of the metallicity distribution function of d0944 + 71 and any stellar contamination due to seeing effects is negligible .
The low ellipticity of the galaxy and its position in the metallicity - luminosity relation suggest that d0944 + 71 has not been affected by strong tidal stripping .