Extinction Law Research Articles

The Optical to Infrared Extinction Law of Magellanic Clouds Based on Red Supergiants and Classical Cepheids

Precise interstellar dust extinction laws are important to infer the intrinsic properties of reddened objects and correctly interpret observations. In this work, we attempt to measure the optical–infrared extinction laws of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) by using red supergiant (RSG) stars and classical Cepheids as extinction tracers. The spectroscopic RSG samples are constructed based on the APOGEE spectral parameters, Gaia astrometric data, and multiband photometry. We establish the effective temperature–intrinsic color relations for RSG stars and determine the color excess ratio (CER) E(λ − G RP)/E(G BP − G RP) for the LMC and SMC. We use classical Cepheids to derive base relative extinction . The results are 1.589 ± 0.014 and 1.412 ± 0.041 for the LMC and SMC. By combining CERs with , the optical–infrared extinction coefficients are determined for 16 bands. We adjust the parameters of R V -dependent extinction laws and obtain average extinction laws for the LMC and SMC of R V = 3.40 ± 0.07 and R V = 2.53 ± 0.10, respectively, which are consistent with Gordon et al. In the optical bands, the adjusted R V extinction curves agree with the observations with deviations less than 3%.

Extending the extinction law in 30 Doradus to the infrared with JWST

We measured the extinction law in the 30 Dor star formation region in the Large Magellanic Cloud using Early Release Observations (EROs) taken with Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on board the JWST, thereby extending previous studies carried out with the Hubble Space Telescope to the infrared. We used red clump stars to derive the direction of the reddening vector in twelve bands and we present the extinction law in this massive star forming region from 0.3 to 4.7 μm. At wavelengths longer than 1 μm, we find a ratio of total and selective extinction twice as high as in the diffuse Milky Way interstellar medium and a change in the relative slope from the optical to the infrared domain. Additionally, we derive an infrared extinction map and find that extinction closely follows the structure of the highly embedded regions of 30 Dor.

Stationary distribution, density function and extinction of stochastic vegetation-water systems

In this paper, two stochastic vegetation-water dynamic systems are proposed and studied. First, for the deterministic system, the possible equilibria and the related local stability are analyzed. Then for the stochastic system perturbed by Gaussian white noise, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of ergodic stationary distribution, which reflects the long-term persistence of vegetation. By defining a stochastic quasi-positive equilibrium E¯∗ and solving the Kolmogorov–Fokker–Planck equation, an approximate expression of probability density function of the stationary distribution around E¯∗ is derived. Besides, we obtain some sufficient criteria for vegetation extinction. In terms of the stochastic system perturbed by both white and colored noises, the related extinction law and stationary distribution are investigated. Finally, several numerical examples are performed to substantiate our theoretical results and analyze the mean first passage time (MFPT).

Stellar signal components seen in HARPS and HARPS-N solar radial velocities

Context. Radial velocity (RV) measurements induced by the presence of planets around late-type stars are contaminated by stellar signals that are on the order of a few meters per second in amplitude, even for the quietest stars. Those signals are induced by acoustic oscillations, convective granulation patterns, active regions corotating with the stellar surface, and magnetic activity cycles. Aims. This study investigates the properties of all coherent stellar signals seen on the Sun on timescales up to its sidereal rotational period. By combining HARPS and HARPS-N solar data spanning several years, we are able to clearly resolve signals on timescales from minutes to several months. Methods. We used a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) mixture model to determine the quality of the solar data based on the expected airmass–magnitude extinction law. We then fit the velocity power spectrum of the cleaned and heliocentric RVs with all known variability sources, to recreate the RV contribution of each component. Results. After rejecting variations caused by poor weather conditions, we were able to improve the average intra-day root mean square (rms) value by a factor of ∼1.8. On sub-rotational timescales, we were able to fully recreate the observed rms of the RV variations. In order to also include rotational components and their strong alias peaks introduced by nightly sampling gaps, the alias powers were accounted for by being redistributed to the central frequencies of the rotational harmonics. Conclusions. In order to enable a better understanding and mitigation of stellar activity sources, their respective impact on the total RV must be well measured and characterized. We were able to recreate RV components up to rotational timescales, which can be further used to analyze the impact of each individual source of stellar signals on the detectability of exoplanets orbiting very quiet solar-type stars and test the observational strategies of RV surveys.

Multiwavelength study of the luminous GRB 210619B observed with Fermi and ASIM

ABSTRACT We report on detailed multiwavelength observations and analysis of the very bright and long GRB 210619B, detected by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor installed on the International Space Station and the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) on-board the Fermi mission. Our main goal is to understand the radiation mechanisms and jet composition of GRB 210619B. With a measured redshift of z = 1.937, we find that GRB 210619B falls within the 10 most luminous bursts observed by Fermi so far. The energy-resolved prompt emission light curve of GRB 210619B exhibits an extremely bright hard emission pulse followed by softer/longer emission pulses. The low-energy photon index (αpt) values obtained using the time-resolved spectral analysis of the burst suggest a transition between the thermal (during harder pulse) to non-thermal (during softer pulse) outflow. We examine the correlation between spectral parameters and find that both peak energy and αpt exhibit the flux tracking pattern. The late time broad-band photometric data set can be explained within the framework of the external forward shock model with νm < νc < νx (where νm, νc, and νx are the synchrotron peak, cooling-break, and X-ray frequencies, respectively) spectral regime supporting a rarely observed hard electron energy index (p < 2). We find moderate values of host extinction of E(B − V) = 0.14 ± 0.01 mag for the small magellanic cloud extinction law. In addition, we also report late-time optical observations with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio de Canarias placing deep upper limits for the host galaxy (z = 1.937), favouring a faint, dwarf host for the burst.

China Space Station Telescope and Variable Star Studies

AbstractIn the last five years, the number of periodic variable stars has increased by two million. We used the ZTF DR2 data to find and build a catalog that includes 780,000 periodic variable stars. These periodic variable stars were classified into 11 types, which greatly complemented the variable stars in Galactic disk. Based on the latest ZTF DR16 data, we found 2 million variable candidates. We trained a machine learner to classify variable stars, and the learner had a prediction accuracy of 94%. Using millions of variable stars, we carried out studies to optimize the period–luminosity relations and the Galactic structure and the extinction law. With the future China Space Station Telescope, millions of variable stars in the Local Group will be discovered. They help to study the structure of our Local Group and also to cross-check the distance ladders based on different variable stars.

Newly discovered Ca ii absorbers in the early Universe: statistics, element abundances, and dust

ABSTRACT We report discoveries of 165 new quasar Ca ii absorbers from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Releases 7 and 12. Our ca ii rest-frame equivalent width distribution supports the weak and strong subpopulations, split at ${W}^{\lambda 3934}_{0}=0.7$ Å. Comparison of both populations’ dust depletion shows clear consistency for weak absorber association with halo-type gas in the Milky Way (MW), while strong absorbers have environments consistent with halo and disc-type gas. We probed our high-redshift Ca ii absorbers for 2175 Å dust bumps, discovering 12 2175 Å dust absorbers (2DAs). This clearly shows that some Ca ii absorbers follow the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) extinction law rather than the Small Magellanic Cloud extinction law. About 33 per cent of our strong Ca ii absorbers exhibit the 2175 Å dust bump, while only 6 per cent of weak Ca ii absorbers show this bump. 2DA detection further supports the theory that strong Ca ii absorbers are associated with disc components and are dustier than the weak population. Comparing average Ca ii absorber dust depletion patterns to that of Damped Ly α absorbers (DLAs), Mg ii absorbers, and 2DAs shows that Ca ii absorbers generally have environments with more dust than DLAs and Mg ii absorbers, but less dust than 2DAs. Comparing 2175 Å dust bump strengths from different samples and also the MW and LMC, the bump strength appears to grow stronger as the redshift decreases, indicating dust growth and the global chemical enrichment of galaxies in the Universe over time.

A Transient “Changing-look” Active Galactic Nucleus Resolved on Month Timescales from First-year Sloan Digital Sky Survey V Data

We report the discovery of a new “changing-look” active galactic nucleus (CLAGN) event, in the quasar SDSS J162829.17+432948.5 at z = 0.2603, identified through repeat spectroscopy from the fifth Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V). Optical photometry taken during 2020–2021 shows a dramatic dimming of Δg ≈ 1 mag, followed by a rapid recovery on a timescale of several months, with the ≲2 month period of rebrightening captured in new SDSS-V and Las Cumbres Observatory spectroscopy. This is one of the fastest CLAGN transitions observed to date. Archival observations suggest that the object experienced a much more gradual dimming over the period of 2011–2013. Our spectroscopy shows that the photometric changes were accompanied by dramatic variations in the quasar-like continuum and broad-line emission. The excellent agreement between the pre- and postdip photometric and spectroscopic appearances of the source, as well as the fact that the dimmest spectra can be reproduced by applying a single extinction law to the brighter spectral states, favor a variable line-of-sight obscuration as the driver of the observed transitions. Such an interpretation faces several theoretical challenges, and thus an alternative accretion-driven scenario cannot be excluded. The recent events observed in this quasar highlight the importance of spectroscopic monitoring of large active galactic nucleus samples on weeks-to-months timescales, which the SDSS-V is designed to achieve.

Towards a Comprehensive View of Accretion, Inner Disks, and Extinction in Classical T Tauri Stars: An ODYSSEUS Study of the Orion OB1b Association

The coevolution of T Tauri stars and their surrounding protoplanetary disks dictates the timescales of planet formation. In this paper, we present magnetospheric accretion and inner disk wall model fits to near-UV (NUV) to near-IR (NIR) spectra of nine classical T Tauri stars in Orion OB1b as part of the Outflows and Disks around Young Stars: Synergies for the Exploration of ULLYSES Spectra (ODYSSEUS) survey. Using NUV–optical spectra from the Hubble UV Legacy Library of Young Stars as Essential Standards (ULLYSES) Director’s Discretionary Program and optical–NIR spectra from the PENELLOPE VLT Large Programme, we find that the accretion rates of these targets are relatively high for the region’s intermediate age of 5.0 Myr; rates are in the range of (0.5–17.2) × 10−8 M ☉ yr−1, with a median value of 1.2 × 10−8 M ☉ yr−1. The NIR excesses can be fit with 1200–1800 K inner disk walls located at 0.05–0.10 au from the host stars. We discuss the significance of the choice in extinction law, as the measured accretion rate depends strongly on the adopted extinction value. This analysis will be extended to the complete sample of T Tauri stars being observed through ULLYSES to characterize accretion and inner disks in star-forming regions of different ages and stellar populations.

Extinction of multiple shocks in the modular Burgers’ equation

We consider multiple shock waves in the Burgers’ equation with a modular advection term. It was previously shown that the modular Burgers’ equation admits a traveling viscous shock with a single interface, which is stable against smooth and exponentially localized perturbations. In contrast, we suggest in the present work with the help of energy estimates and numerical simulations that the evolution of shock waves with multiple interfaces leads to finite-time coalescence of two consecutive interfaces. We formulate a precise scaling law of the finite-time extinction supported by the interface equations and by numerical simulations.

The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey: Photonic Passbands and Extinction Coefficients for the u and v Bands

The Stellar Abundances and Galactic Evolution Survey (SAGES) is a multi-band photometric survey focused on estimation of stellar atmospheric parameters and interstellar extinction. In this paper we have derived photonic passbands for the intermediate-band u and v filters of the SAGES photometric system. The derived photonic passbands have been compared with those of the u and v filters of the Strömgren and SkyMapper systems. Synthetic photometry based on the derived photonic passbands could reproduce the observations very well. We have also derived observed, model-free extinction coefficients for the SAGES u and v bands (as well as the Pan-STARRS grizy bands) using the “standard pair” method. The derived reddening coefficients have been compared with those predicted by the extinction laws. Variations of reddening coefficients with effective temperatures and color excesses of B–V given by Schlegel et al. (E(B−V)SFD) have been investigated. No obvious trends or significant variations with effective temperatures have been found, but reddening coefficients for all the colors exhibit declining trends with increasing E(B−V)SFD, with typical relative variations of twenty-some percent from E(B − V)SFD ∼ 0 to 1.

Interstellar Extinction in Galactic Cirri in SDSS Stripe 82

We have applied the method of star counts with Wolf diagrams to determine the interstellar extinction in five Galactic cirri in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Stripe 82. For this purpose, we have used the photometry of stars in the GALEX NUV filter and the photometry of red dwarfs in five SDSS bands and four SkyMapper Southern Sky Survey DR2 bands. We have identified the cirri as sky regions with an enhanced infrared emission from the Schlegel+1998 map. The extinction in them has been calculated relative to the nearby comparison regions with a reduced emission. The results for different filters agree well, giving the range of distances and the extinction law for each cirrus. The distances in the range 140--415 pc found are consistent with the 3D reddening maps. In the range between the $B$ and $V$ filters the extinctions found are consistent with the estimates from Schlegel+1998 for the Cardelli+1989 extinction law with $R_\mathrm{V}=3.1$. However, the extinctions found for all of the filters are best described not by the Cardelli+1989 extinction law with some $R_\mathrm{V}=3.1$, but by the inverse proportionality of the extinction and wavelength with its own coefficient for each cirrus. In one of the cirri our results suggest a very slight decrease in extinction with wavelength, i.e., a large contribution of gray extinction. In the remaining cirri a manifestation of gray extinction is not ruled out either. This is consistent with the previous measurements of the extinction law far from the Galactic midplane.

New Theoretical Period–Luminosity–Metallicity Relations for RR Lyrae in the Rubin-LSST Filters

The revolutionary power of future Rubin-LSST observations will allow us to significantly improve the physics of pulsating stars, including RR Lyrae. In this context, an updated theoretical scenario predicting all the relevant pulsation observables in the corresponding photometric filters is mandatory. The bolometric light curves are based on a recently computed extensive set of nonlinear convective pulsation models for RR Lyrae stars, covering a broad range of metal content, and have been transformed into the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (Rubin-LSST) photometric system. Predicted Rubin-LSST mean magnitudes and pulsation amplitudes have been adopted to build the Bailey diagrams (luminosity amplitude versus period) and the color–color diagrams in these bands. The current findings indicate that the g LSST–r LSST and r LSST–i LSST colors obey to a well-defined linear relation with the metal content. Moreover, the period–luminosity relations display in the reddest filters (r LSST, i LSST, z LSST, y LSST) a significant dependence on the assumed metal abundance. In particular, more metal-rich RR Lyrae are predicted to be fainter at a fixed period. Metal-dependent period–Wesenheit relations for different combinations of optical and near-infrared filters are also provided. These represent powerful tools to infer individual distances independently of reddening uncertainties, once the metal abundance is known and no relevant deviations from the adopted extinction law occur. Finally, we also derived new linear and quadratic absolute magnitude metallicity relations (g LSST versus [Fe/H]) and the metallicity coefficient is consistent with previous findings concerning the B and the V band.

Sensitivity of the Hubble Constant Determination to Cepheid Calibration

Motivated by the large observed diversity in the properties of extragalactic extinction by dust, we reanalyze the Cepheid calibration used to infer the Hubble constant, H 0, from Type Ia supernovae, using Cepheid data in 19 Type Ia supernova host galaxies from Riess et al. and anchor data from Riess et al. Unlike the SH0ES team, we do not enforce a fixed universal color–luminosity relation to correct the Cepheid magnitudes. Instead, we focus on a data-driven method, where the optical colors and near-infrared magnitudes of the Cepheids are used to derive individual color–luminosity relations for each Type Ia supernova host and anchor galaxy. We present two different analyses, one based on Wesenheit magnitudes, resulting in H 0 = 73.2 ± 1.3 km s−1 Mpc−1, a 4.2σ tension with the value inferred from the cosmic microwave background. In the second approach, we calibrate an individual extinction law for each galaxy, with noninformative priors using color excesses, yielding H 0 = 73.9 ± 1.8 km s−1 Mpc−1, in 3.4σ tension with the Planck value. Although the two methods yield similar results, in the latter approach, the Hubble constants inferred from the individual Cepheid absolute distance calibrator galaxies range from H 0 = 68.1 ± 3.5 km s−1 Mpc−1 to H 0 = 76.7 ± 2.0 km s−1 Mpc−1. Taking the correlated nature of H 0 inferred from individual anchors into account, and allowing for individual extinction laws, the Milky Way anchor is in 2.1–3.1 σ tension with the NGC 4258 and Large Magellanic Cloud anchors, depending on prior assumptions regarding the color–luminosity relations and the method used for quantifying the tension.

The extinction law in the inner 3 × 3 deg2 of the Milky Way and the red clump absolute magnitude in the inner bar-bulge

ABSTRACT The extinction law from 0.9 to 8 microns in the inner $3\times 3\deg ^2$ of the Milky Way is measured using data from VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea, GLIMPSE, and WISE. Absolute extinction ratios are found by requiring that the observed red clump density peaks at the GRAVITY collaboration distance to the Galactic centre. When combined with selective extinction ratios measured from the bulge giant colour–colour diagrams, we find an extinction law of $A_Z:A_Y:A_J:A_H:A_{K_s}:A_{W1}:A_{[3.6]}:A_{[4.5]}:A_{W2}:A_{[5.8]}:A_{[8.0]} =7.19(0.30):5.11(0.20):3.23(0.11):1.77(0.04):1:0.54(0.02):0.46(0.03):0.34(0.03):0.32(0.03):0.24(0.04):0.28(0.03)$ valid for low extinctions where non-linearities are unimportant. These results imply an extinction law from the Rayleigh Jeans colour excess method of $A_{K_s}=0.677(H-[4.5]-0.188)$. We find little evidence for significant selective extinction ratio variation over the inspected region (around $5\, \mathrm{per\, cent}$). Assuming the absolute extinction ratios do not vary across the inspected region gives an independent measurement of the absolute Ks magnitude of the red clump at the Galactic Centre of $(-1.61\pm 0.07)\, \mathrm{mag}$. This is very similar to the value measured for solar neighbourhood red clump stars giving confidence in the use of red clump stars as standard candles across the Galaxy. As part of our analysis, we inspect the completeness of PSF photometry from the VVV survey using artificial star tests, finding $90\, \mathrm{per\, cent}$ completeness at $K_s\approx 16 \, (17)$ in high (low) density regions and good agreement with the number counts with respect to the GALACTICNUCLEUS and DECAPS catalogues over small regions of the survey.

Dust Extinction Law in Nearby Star-resolved Galaxies. II. M33 Traced by Supergiants

The dust extinction curves toward individual sight lines in M33 are derived for the first time with a sample of reddened O-type and B-type supergiants obtained from the Local Group Galaxies Survey (LGGS). The observed photometric data are obtained from the LGGS, PS1 Survey, UKIRT, PHATTER Survey, Galaxy Evolution Explorer, Swift/UVOT, and XMM-SUSS. We combine the intrinsic spectral energy distributions (SEDs) obtained from the ATLAS9 and Tlusty stellar model atmosphere extinguished by the model extinction curves from the silicate-graphite dust model to construct model SEDs. The extinction traces are distributed along the arms in M33, and the derived extinction curves cover a wide range of shapes (R V ≈ 2–6), indicating the complexity of the interstellar environment and the inhomogeneous distribution of interstellar dust in M33. The average extinction curve with R V ≈ 3.39 and dust size distribution is similar to that of the Milky Way but with a weaker 2175 Å bump and a slightly steeper rise in the far-UV band. The extinction in the V band of M33 is up to 2 mag, with a median value of A V ≈ 0.43 mag. The multiband extinction values from the UV to IR bands are also predicted for M33, which will provide extinction corrections for future works. The method adopted in this work is also applied to other star-resolved galaxies (NGC 6822 and WLM), but only a few extinction curves can be derived because of the limited observations.

Dust Extinction Law in Nearby Star-resolved Galaxies. I. M31 Traced by Supergiants

Abstract The dust extinction laws and dust properties in M31 are explored with a sample of reddened O-type and B-type supergiants obtained from the Local Group Galaxies Survey (LGGS). The observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for each tracer are constructed with multiband photometry from the LGGS, PS1 Survey, UKIRT, PHAT Survey, Swift/UVOT, and XMM-SUSS. We model the SED for each tracer in combination with the intrinsic spectrum obtained from the stellar model atmosphere extinguished by the model extinction curves. Instead of mathematically parameterizing the extinction functions, the model extinction curves in this work are directly derived from the silicate–graphite dust model with a dust size distribution of dn / da ∼ a − α exp ( − a / 0.25 ) , 0.005 < a < 5 μ m . The extinction tracers are distributed along the arms in M31, with the derived Milky Way (MW)–type extinction curves covering a wide range of R V (≈ 2–6), indicating the complexity of the interstellar environment and the inhomogeneous distribution of interstellar dust in M31. The average extinction curve with R V ≈ 3.51 and dust size distribution dn / da ∼ a − 3.35 exp ( − a / 0.25 ) is similar to that of the MW but rises slightly less steeply in the far-UV bands, implying that the overall interstellar environment in M31 resembles the diffuse region in the MW. The extinction in the V band of M31 is up to 3 mag, with a median value of A V ≈ 1 mag. The multiband extinction values from the UV to IR bands are also predicted for M31, which will provide a general extinction correction for future works.

Plasma Diagnostics in the Era of Integral Field Spectroscopy

To understand the physical conditions of various gaseous systems, plasma diagnostics must be performed properly. To that end, it is equally important to have extinction correction performed properly, even before performing plasma diagnostics. This means that the physical conditions of the target sources—the very quantities to be derived via plasma diagnostics—must be known even before performing extinction correction, because the degree of extinction is determined by comparing the observed spectra of the target sources with their theoretically predicted counterparts. One way to resolve this conundrum is to perform both extinction correction and plasma diagnostics together by iteratively seeking a converged solution. In fact, if these analyses are performed self-consistently, a converged solution can be found based solely on well-calibrated line intensities, given the adopted extinction law and the RV value. However, it is still rare to find these analyses performed numerically rigorously without unnecessary analytical approximations from start to finish. In this contribution for the APN 8e conference, we would like to review this convoluted problem and sort out critical issues based on the results of our recent experiments. It appears that the convoluted theoretical and observational progresses exacerbated by the highly numerical nature of these analyses necessitated a number of analytical simplifications to make the problem analytically tractable in the pre-computer era and that such analytical simplifications still remain rampant in the literature today, even after ample computational resources became readily available. Hence, the community is encouraged to do away with this old habit of sidestepping numerical calculations that was a necessary evil in the past. This is especially true in the context of spatially-resolved 2-D spectroscopy, which obviously conflicts with the uniformity assumption often blindly inherited from 1-D spectroscopy.

Photo-chemo-dynamical analysis and the origin of the bulge globular cluster Palomar 6

Context. Palomar 6 (Pal6) is a moderately metal-poor globular cluster projected towards the Galactic bulge. A full analysis of the cluster can give hints on the early chemical enrichment of the Galaxy and a plausible origin of the cluster. Aims. The aim of this study is threefold: a detailed analysis of high-resolution spectroscopic data obtained with the UVES spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at ESO, the derivation of the age and distance of Pal6 from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometric data, and an orbital analysis to determine the probable origin of the cluster. Methods. High-resolution spectra of six red giant stars in the direction of Pal6 were obtained at the 8 m VLT UT2-Kueyen telescope equipped with the UVES spectrograph in FLAMES+UVES configuration. Spectroscopic parameters were derived through excitation and ionisation equilibrium of Fe I and Fe II lines, and the abundances were obtained from spectrum synthesis. From HST photometric data, the age and distance were derived through a statistical isochrone fitting. Finally, a dynamical analysis was carried out for the cluster assuming two different Galactic potentials. Results. Four stars that are members of Pal 6 were identified in the sample, which gives a mean radial velocity of 174.3 ± 1.6 km s−1 and a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.10 ± 0.09 for the cluster. We found an enhancement of α-elements (O, Mg, Si, and Ca) of 0.29< [X/Fe] < 0.38 and the iron-peak element Ti of [Ti/Fe] ∼ +0.3. The odd-Z elements (Na and Al) show a mild enhancement of [X/Fe] ∼ +0.25. The abundances of both first- (Y and Zr) and second-peak (Ba and La) heavy elements are relatively high, with +0.4 < [X/Fe] < +0.60 and +0.4 < [X/Fe] < +0.5, respectively. The r-element Eu is also relatively high with [Eu/Fe] ∼ +0.6. One member star presents enhancements in N and Al, with [Al/Fe] > +0.30, this being evidence of a second stellar population, further confirmed with the NaON-Al (anti)correlations. For the first time, we derived the age of Pal 6, which resulted to be 12.4 ± 0.9 Gyr. We also found a low extinction coefficient RV = 2.6 for the Pal 6 projection, which is compatible with the latest results for the highly extincted bulge populations. The derived extinction law results in a distance of 7.67 ± 0.19 kpc from the Sun with an AV = 4.21 ± 0.05. The chemical and photometric analyses combined with the orbital-dynamical analyses point out that Pal 6 belongs to the bulge component probably formed in the main-bulge progenitor. Conculsions. The present analysis indicates that the globular cluster Pal 6 is located in the bulge volume and that it was probably formed in the bulge in the early stages of the Milky Way formation, sharing the chemical properties with the family of intermediate metallicity very old clusters M 62, NGC 6522, NGC 6558, and HP 1.

The Sejong Open Cluster Survey (SOS). VII. A Photometric Study of the Young Open Cluster IC 1590

Abstract Young open clusters are ideal laboratories to understand the star formation process. We present deep UBVI and Hα photometry for the young open cluster IC 1590 in the center of the H ii region NGC 281. Early-type members are selected from UBV photometric diagrams, and low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) members are identified by using Hα photometry. In addition, the published X-ray source list and Gaia astrometric data are also used to isolate probable members. A total of 408 stars are selected as members. The mean reddening obtained from early-type members is 〈E(B − V)〉 = 0.40 ± 0.06 (s.d.). We confirm the abnormal extinction law for the intracluster medium. The distance modulus to the cluster determined from the zero-age main-sequence fitting method is 12.3 ± 0.2 mag (d = 2.88 ± 0.28 kpc), which is consistent with the distance d = 2.70 − 0.20 + 0.24 kpc from the recent Gaia parallaxes. We also estimate the ages and masses of individual members by means of stellar evolutionary models. The mode of the age of PMS stars is about 0.8 Myr. The initial mass function of IC 1590 is derived. It appears to be a steeper shape (Γ = −1.49 ± 0.14) than that of the Salpeter/Kroupa initial mass function for the high-mass regime (m > 1 M ⊙). The signature of mass segregation is detected from the difference in the slopes of the initial mass functions for the inner ( r < 2 .′ 5 ) and outer regions of this cluster. We finally discuss the star formation history in NGC 281.