OGLE-ing the Magellanic System: Cepheids in the Bridge*

Abstract

Abstract We present a detailed analysis of the Magellanic Bridge Cepheid sample constructed using the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment Collection of Variable Stars. Our updated Bridge sample contains 10 classical and 13 anomalous Cepheids. We calculate their individual distances using optical period–Wesenheit relations and construct three-dimensional maps. Classical Cepheid (CC) on-sky locations match very well neutral hydrogen and young stars distributions; thus, they add to the overall young Bridge population. In three dimensions, 8 out of 10 CCs form a bridge-like connection between the Magellanic Clouds. The other two are located slightly farther away and may constitute the Counter Bridge. We estimate ages of our Cepheids to be less than 300 Myr for from 5 up to 8 out of 10, depending on whether the rotation is included. This is in agreement with a scenario where these stars were formed in situ after the last encounter of the Magellanic Clouds. Cepheids’ proper motions reveal that they are moving away from both Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Anomalous Cepheids are more spread than CCs in both two and three dimensions, even though they form a rather smooth connection between the Magellanic Clouds. However, this connection does not seem to be bridge-like, as there are many outliers around both Magellanic Clouds.