Galactic Globular Cluster Stars Research Articles

The ones that got away: chemical tagging of globular cluster-origin stars with Gaia BP/RP spectra

ABSTRACT Globular clusters (GCs) are sites of extremely efficient star formation, and recent studies suggest they significantly contributed to the early Milky Way’s stellar mass build-up. Although their role has since diminished, GCs’ impact on the Galaxy’s initial evolution can be traced today by identifying their most chemically unique stars – those with anomalous nitrogen and aluminum overabundances and oxygen depletion. While they are a perfect tracer of clusters, be it intact or fully dissolved, these high-[N/O], high-[Al/Fe] GC-origin stars are extremely rare within the current Galaxy. To address the scarcity of these unusual, precious former GC members, we train a neural network (NN) to identify high-[N/O], high-[Al/Fe] stars using low-resolution Gaia Blue Photometer/Red Photometer spectra. Our NN achieves a classification accuracy of approximately $\approx 99~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and a false positive rate of around $\approx 7~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, identifying 878 new candidates in the Galactic field. We validate our results with several physically motivated sanity checks, showing, for example, that the incidence of selected stars in Galactic GCs is significantly higher than in the field. Moreover, we find that most of our GC-origin candidates reside in the inner Galaxy, having likely formed in the proto-Milky Way, consistent with previous research. The fraction of GC candidates in the field drops at a metallicity of [Fe/H]$\approx -1$, approximately coinciding with the completion of spin-up, i.e. the formation of the Galactic stellar disc.

On the membership of variable stars in Galactic globular clusters: the Oosterhoff gap

ABSTRACT We have performed a critical evaluation of the membership status of all variable stars in globular clusters recorded in the Catalogue of Variable Stars in Globular Clusters (CVSGC) curated by Christine Clement. To this end, we employed the systematic and bulky membership analysis performed by E. Vasiliev and H. Baumgardt based on the proper motions and parallaxes given in Gaia-EDR3. We found numerous variables in the CVSGC which are in fact field stars, which is particularly the case for globular clusters located in the Galactic bulge. Using the newly acquired list of reliable cluster members we examine the Oosterhoff dichotomy present among the Milky Way (MW) globular clusters using their RR Lyrae stars content. We confirm the presence of the Oosterhoff gap, separating both Oosterhoff groups. The Oosterhoff gap is mostly populated by globular clusters associated with MW dwarf galaxies and globular clusters with a low number of fundamental mode RR Lyrae variables. Several of the clusters in the Oosterhoff gap were previously linked to past merger events (e.g. Kraken/Heracles).

The variable stars in the field of the bulge cluster NGC 6558

ABSTRACT We made a survey of the variable stars in a 13.2 × 13.2 arcmin$^{2}$ centred on the field of the Galactic bulge cluster NGC 6558. A total of 78 variables were found in the field of the cluster. Many of these variables are included in the catalogue of variable stars in Galactic globular clusters (Clement et al. 2001), OGLE or Gaia DR3 data releases. A membership analysis based on the proper motions of Gaia DR3 revealed that many of these variables do not belong to the cluster. We employed the data from the aforementioned surveys and our own data in the VI photometric system to estimate the periods, which along with the light-curves morphology and position in a deferentially dereddened colour–magnitude diagram (CMD), help classifying the variable types. Two new member variables were found; an eclipsing binary (V18) and a semiregular SR/L (V19). In the end, we conclude that only nine variables are likely cluster members. Member variables were used to discuss the mean metallicity and distance of the parental cluster and find the average values.

Discovery of a hot post-AGB star in Galactic globular cluster E3

We report a new hot post-asymptotic giant branch (PAGB) star in the Galactic globular cluster (GC) E3, which is one of the first of the identified PAGB stars in a GC to show a binary signature. The star stands out as the brightest source in E3 in the Astrosat/UVIT images. We confirmed its membership with the cluster E3 using Gaia DR3 kinematics and parallax measurements. We supplemented the photometric observations with radial velocities (RVs) from high-resolution spectroscopic observations at two epochs and with ground- and space-based photometric observations from 0.13 μm to 22 μm. We find that the RVs vary over ∼6 km s−1 between the two epochs. This is an indication of the star being in a binary orbit. A simulation of possible binary systems with the observed RVs suggests a binary period of either 39.12 days or 17.83 days with mass ratio q ≥ 1.0. The [Fe/H] derived using the high-resolution spectra is ∼−0.7 dex, which closely matches the cluster metallicity. The spectroscopic and photometric measurements suggest Teff and logg of the star as 17 500 ± 1000 K and 2.37 ± 0.20 dex, respectively. Various PAGB evolutionary tracks on the Hertzsprung–Russell (H–R) diagram suggest a current mass of the star in the range 0.51–0.55 M⊙. The star is enriched with C and O abundances, showing similar CNO abundances compared to the other PAGB stars in GCs with the evidence of the third dredge-up on the AGB phase.

First spectroscopic investigation of anomalous Cepheid variables

Context. Anomalous Cepheids (ACEPs) are intermediate-mass metal-poor pulsators that are mostly discovered in dwarf galaxies of the Local Group. However, recent Galactic surveys, including the Gaia Data Release 3, found a few hundred ACEPs in the Milky Way. Their origin is only poorly understood. Aims. We aim to investigate the origin and evolution of Galactic ACEPs by studying the chemical composition of their atmospheres for the first time. Methods. We used UVES at the Very Large Telescope to obtain high-resolution spectra for a sample of nine ACEPs belonging to the Galactic halo. We derived the abundances of 12 elements, C, Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Y, and Ba. We complemented these data with literature abundances from high-resolution spectroscopy for an additional three ACEPs that were previously incorrectly classified as type II Cepheids. This increased the sample to a total of 12 stars. Results. All the investigated ACEPs have an iron abundance [Fe/H] < −1.5 dex, as expected from theoretical predictions for these pulsators. The abundance ratios of the different elements to iron show that the chemical composition of ACEPs is generally consistent with that of the Galactic halo field stars, with the exception of sodium, which is found to be overabundant in 9 out of the 11 ACEPs where it was measured. This is very similar to the situation for second-generation stars in Galactic globular clusters. The same comparison with dwarf and ultra-faint satellites of the Milky Way reveals more differences than similarities. It is therefore unlikely that the bulk of Galactic ACEPs originated in a galaxy like this that subsequently dissolved into the Galactic halo. The principal finding of this work is the unexpected overabundance of sodium in ACEPs. We explored several hypotheses to explain this feature, finding that the most promising scenario is the evolution of low-mass stars in a binary system with either mass transfer or merging. Detailed modelling is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

Evidence of Third Dredge-up in Post-AGB Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters

To better understand the mixing and mass loss experienced by low-mass stars as they ascend the asymptotic giant branch (AGB), I have gathered from the literature the abundances of CNO and s-process elements in post-AGB stars in Galactic globular clusters. These species are mixed to the surface during third dredge-up (3DU) events, so their abundance should increase as the star ascends the AGB. Of the 17 stars in this sample, CNO abundances are available for 11. Of these, four are enhanced in CNO relative to the red giant branch stars from which they descended, which I take as evidence of 3DU on the AGB. The enhancement is mainly in the form of carbon. Of the six stars for which only heavy-element abundances are available, one shows s-process enhancements that previous authors have interpreted as evidence of 3DU. Combining these 17 stars with other recent samples reveals that most globular-cluster post-AGB stars have luminosities log(L/L⊙)∼3.25 . They are the progeny of blue horizontal-branch (HB) stars in clusters with intermediate metallicity ([Fe/H] ∼ −1.5). A second group consists of sub-luminous stars associated with high-metallicity clusters ([Fe/H] ∼ −1.0) with red HBs. They may be burning helium, rather than hydrogen. A third group of hot, super-luminous stars is evolving quickly across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Some of them may be merger remnants.

The APOGEE value-added catalogue of Galactic globular cluster stars

ABSTRACT We introduce the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)/ Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) value-added catalogue of Galactic globular cluster (GC) stars. The catalogue is the result of a critical search of the APOGEE Data Release 17 (DR17) catalogue for candidate members of all known Galactic GCs. Candidate members are assigned to various GCs on the basis of position in the sky, proper motion, and radial velocity. The catalogue contains a total of 7737 entries for 6422 unique stars associated with 72 Galactic GCs. Full APOGEE DR17 information is provided, including radial velocities and abundances for up to 20 elements. Membership probabilities estimated on the basis of precision radial velocities are made available. Comparisons with chemical compositions derived from the GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey, as well as optical values from the literature, show good agreement. This catalogue represents a significant increase in the public data base of GC star chemical compositions and kinematics, providing a massive homogeneous data set that will enable a variety of studies. The catalogue in fits format is available for public download from the SDSS-IV DR17 value-added catalogue website.

Abundance of zirconium in the globular cluster 47 Tucanae: a possible Zr–Na correlation?

We determined abundances of Na and Zr in the atmospheres of 237 RGB stars in Galactic globular cluster (GGC) 47 Tuc (NGC 104), with a primary objective of investigating possible differences between the abundances of Zr in the first generation (1P) and second generation (2P) stars. For the abundance analysis, we used archival UVES/GIRAFFE spectra obtained during three different observing programmes. Abundances were determined from two Na I and three Zr I lines, using 1D hydrostatic ATLAS9 model atmospheres. The target stars for the abundance analysis were limited to those with 4200 ≤ Teff ≤ 4800 K. This is the largest sample of GGC stars in which Na and Zr abundances have been studied so far. While our mean [Na/Fe] and [Zr/Fe] ratios agree well with those determined in the earlier studies, we find a weak but statistically significant correlation in the [Zr/Fe] – [Na/Fe] plane. A comparison of the mean [Zr/Fe] abundance ratios in the 1P and 2P stars suggests a small but statistically significant Zr over-abundance in the 2P stars, ∆[Zr/Fe]2P−1P ≈ +0.06 dex. Also, our analysis shows that stars enriched in both Zr and Na are more centrally concentrated. However, we find no correlation between their distance from the cluster centre and their full spatial velocity, as indicated by the velocity dispersions at different mean values of [Zr/Fe] and [Na/Fe]. While there may be some influence of CN line blends on the determined Zr abundances, it seems very unlikely that the detected Zr–Na correlation, for the slightly higher Zr abundances in the 2P stars, would be caused by the CN blending alone. The obtained results indicate that, in 47 Tuc, some amount of Zr should have been synthesised by the same polluters that enriched 2P stars with the light elements. While sizeable amounts of Zr may be synthesised by both AGB stars (M ~ 1.5–5 M⊙) and massive rotating stars (M ~ 12–25 M⊙, υrot > 150 km s−1), our data alone do not allow us to distinguish which of the two scenarios, or whether or not a combination of both, could have operated in this GGC.

Determination of Sodium Abundance Ratio from Low-resolution Stellar Spectra and Its Applications

Abstract We present a method to determine sodium abundance ratios ([Na/Fe]) using the Na i D doublet lines in low-resolution (R ∼ 2000) stellar spectra. As stellar Na i D lines are blended with those produced by the interstellar medium, we developed a technique for removing the interstellar Na i D lines using the relationship between extinction, which is proportional to E(B − V), and the equivalent width of the interstellar Na i D absorption lines. When measuring [Na/Fe], we also considered corrections for nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects. Comparisons with data from high-resolution spectroscopic surveys suggest that the expected precision of [Na/Fe] from low-resolution spectra is better than 0.3 dex for stars with [Fe/H] > −3.0. We also present a simple application employing the estimated [Na/Fe] values for a large number of stellar spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). After classifying the SDSS stars into Na-normal, Na-high, and Na-extreme, we explore their relation to stars in Galactic globular clusters (GCs). We find that while the Na-high SDSS stars exhibit a similar metallicity distribution function (MDF) to that of the GCs, indicating that the majority of such stars may have originated from GC debris, the MDF of the Na-normal SDSS stars follows that of typical disk and halo stars. As there is a high fraction of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars among the Na-extreme stars, they may have a non-GC origin, perhaps due to mass-transfer events from evolved binary companions.

Erratum: “Astrometric Membership Tests for the Zinn–Newell–Gibson UV-bright Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters” (2021, AJ, 161, 204)

Erratum: “Astrometric Membership Tests for the Zinn–Newell–Gibson UV-bright Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters” (2021, AJ, 161, 204)

Astrometric Membership Tests for the Zinn–Newell–Gibson UV-bright Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters

Abstract In 1972, Zinn, Newell, & Gibson (ZNG) published a list of 156 candidate UV-bright stars they had found in 27 Galactic globular clusters (GCs), based on photographs in the U and V bands. UV-bright stars lie above the horizontal branch (HB) and blueward of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and red giant branch in the clusters’ color–magnitude diagrams. They are in rapid evolutionary phases—if they are members and not unrelated bright foreground stars. The ZNG list has inspired numerous follow-up studies, aimed at understanding late stages of stellar evolution. However, the ZNG candidates were presented only in finding charts, and celestial coordinates were not given. Using my own collection of CCD frames in u and V, I have identified all of the ZNG objects, and have assembled their coordinates, parallaxes, and proper motions from the recent Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3). Based on the Gaia astrometry, I have determined which objects are probable cluster members (45% of the sample). For the members, using photometry from EDR3, I have assigned the stars to various evolutionary stages, including luminous post-AGB stars, and stars above the HB. I point out several ZNG stars of special interest that have still, to my knowledge, never been studied in detail. This study is an adjunct to a forthcoming survey of the Galactic GCs in the uBVI photometric system, designed for detection of low-gravity stars with large Balmer discontinuities.

Future of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars from the Experience of Recent Name-lists

Abstract We briefly outline the history of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) and the New Catalogue of Suspected Variable Stars (NSV catalogue). Recently, we have completed a revision of the NSV catalogue. Positional information was checked for all its stars and, in many cases, new photometric data were added. As a result, one third of all NSV stars have been transferred to the GCVS. Having determined equatorial coordinates for variable stars in globular star clusters, we began to add them to the GCVS. Two Name-lists published so far contain more than 1700 variable stars in 36 globular clusters; an additional Name-list (about 900 variable stars in 27 globular clusters) will be published before the end of 2021. We discuss problem cases in the literature and in the Catalogue of Variable Stars in Galactic Globular Clusters revealed during our preparation of the Name-lists. The future of traditional catalogues of variable stars (GCVS; AAVSO Variable-star Data Index VSX) is discussed.

Multiple Stellar Populations along the Red Horizontal Branch and Red Clump of Globular Clusters

Abstract We exploit multiband Hubble Space Telescope photometry to investigate multiple populations (MPs) along the red horizontal branches (HBs) and red clumps of 14 metal-rich globular clusters (GCs), including 12 Milky Way GCs and the Magellanic Cloud GCs NGC 1978 and NGC 416. Based on appropriate two-color diagrams, we find that the fraction of first-generation (1G) stars in Galactic GCs correlates with cluster mass, confirming previous results based on red-giant branch (RGB) stars. Magellanic Cloud GCs show higher fractions of 1G stars than Galactic GCs with similar masses, thus suggesting that the environment affects the MP phenomenon. We compared and combined our population fractions based on the HB with previous estimates from the MS and RGB, and we used ground-based UBVI photometry (available for NGC 104, NGC 5927, NGC 6366, and NGC 6838) to extend the investigation over a wide field of view. All studied GCs are consistent with flat distributions of 1G and second-generation (2G) stars within ∼1′ from the cluster center except NGC 416, where the 2G is more centrally concentrated. 2G stars of NGC 104 and NGC 5927 are more centrally concentrated than the 1G stars, whereas the distribution is flat for NGC 6366 and NGC 6838. We discover that most of the analyzed GCs exhibit extended sequences of 1G stars along the red HB, not consistent with a simple population. The comparison between appropriate synthetic and observed CMDs reveals that these extended distributions are consistent with either star-to-star variation in helium or with an internal metallicity spread, recalling the inhomogeneity of 1G stars along the chromosome maps.

A plague of magnetic spots among the hot stars of globular clusters

Six decades and counting, the formation of hot ~20,000-30,000 K Extreme Horizontal Branch (EHB) stars in Galactic Globular Clusters remains one of the most elusive quests in stellar evolutionary theory. Here we report on two discoveries shattering their currently alleged stable luminosity. The first EHB variability is periodic and cannot be ascribed to binary evolution nor pulsation. Instead, we here attribute it to the presence of magnetic spots: superficial chemical inhomogeneities whose projected rotation induces the variability. The second EHB variability is aperiodic and manifests itself on time-scales of years. In two cases, the six-year light curves display superflare events a mammoth several million times more energetic than solar analogs. We advocate a scenario where the two spectacular EHB variability phenomena are different manifestations of diffuse, dynamo-generated, weak magnetic fields. Ubiquitous magnetic fields, therefore, force an admittance into the intricate matrix governing the formation of all EHBs, and traverse to their Galactic field counterparts. The bigger picture is one where our conclusions bridge similar variability/magnetism phenomena in all radiative-enveloped stars: young main-sequence stars, old EHBs and defunct white dwarfs.

Empirical estimates of the Na–O anti-correlation in 95 Galactic globular clusters

Large star-to-star abundance variations are direct evidence of multiple stellar populations in Galactic globular clusters (GCs). The main and most widespread chemical signature is the anti-correlation of the stellar Na and O abundances. The interquartile range (IQR) of the [O/Na] ratio is well suited to quantifying the extent of the anti-correlation and to probe its links to global cluster parameters. However, since it is quite time consuming to obtain precise abundances from spectroscopy for large samples of stars in GCs, here we show empirical calibrations of IQR[O/Na] based on the O, Na abundances homogeneously derived from more than 2000 red giants in 22 GCs in our FLAMES survey. We find a statistically robust bivariate correlation of IQR as a function of the total luminosity (a proxy for mass) and cluster concentration c. Calibrated and observed values lie along the identity line when a term accounting for the horizontal branch (HB) morphology is added to the calibration, from which we obtained empirical values for 95 GCs. Spreads in proton-capture elements O and Na are found for all GCs in the luminosity range from MV = −3.76 to MV = −9.98. This calibration reproduces in a self-consistent picture the link of abundance variations in light elements with the He enhancements and its effect on the stellar distribution on the HB. We show that the spreads in light elements seem already to be dependent on the initial GC masses. The dependence of IQR on structural parameters stems from the well known correlation between c and MV, which is likely to be of primordial origin. Empirical estimates can be used to extend our investigation of multiple stellar populations to GCs in external galaxies, up to M 31, where even integrated light spectroscopy may currently provide only a hint of such a phenomenon.

Carbon Abundance Inhomogeneities and Deep Mixing Rates in Galactic Globular Clusters

Abstract Among stars in Galactic globular clusters the carbon abundance tends to decrease with increasing luminosity on the upper red giant branch, particularly within the lowest metallicity clusters. While such a phenomena is not predicted by canonical models of stellar interiors and evolution, it is widely held to be the result of some extra mixing operating during red giant branch ascent which transports material exposed to the CN(O)-cycle across the radiative zone in the stellar interior and into the base of the convective envelope, whereupon it is brought rapidly to the stellar surface. Here we present measurements of [C/Fe] abundances among 67 red giants in 19 globular clusters within the Milky Way. Building on the work of Martell et al., we have concentrated on giants with absolute magnitudes of M V ∼ −1.5 within clusters encompassing a range of metallicity (−2.4 < [Fe/H] < −0.3). The Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) 4 m and Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) 4.1 m telescopes were used to obtain spectra covering the λ4300 CH and λ3883 CN bands. The CH absorption features in these spectra have been analyzed via synthetic spectra in order to obtain [C/Fe] abundances. These abundances and the luminosities of the observed stars were used to infer the rate at which C abundances change with time during upper red giant branch evolution (i.e., the mixing efficiency). By establishing rates over a range of metallicity, the dependence of deep mixing on metallicity is explored. We find that the inferred carbon depletion rate decreases as a function of metallicity, although our results are dependent on the initial [C/Fe] composition assumed for each star.

Supergiants and their shells in young globular clusters

Context. Anomalous surface abundances are observed in a fraction of the low-mass stars of Galactic globular clusters, that may originate from hot-hydrogen-burning products ejected by a previous generation of massive stars. Aims. We aim to present and investigate a scenario in which the second generation of polluted low-mass stars can form in shells around cool supergiant stars within a young globular cluster. Methods. Simulations of low-metallicity massive stars (Mi ~ 150−600 M⊙) show that both core-hydrogen-burning cool supergiants and hot ionizing stellar sources are expected to be present simulaneously in young globular clusters. Under these conditions, photoionization-confined shells form around the supergiants. We have simulated such a shell, investigated its stability and analysed its composition. Results. We find that the shell is gravitationally unstable on a timescale that is shorter than the lifetime of the supergiant, and the Bonnor-Ebert mass of the overdense regions is low enough to allow star formation. Since the low-mass stellar generation formed in this shell is made up of the material lost from the supergiant, its composition necessarily reflects the composition of the supergiant wind. We show that the wind contains hot-hydrogen-burning products, and that the shell-stars therefore have very similar abundance anomalies that are observed in the second generation stars of globular clusters. Considering the mass-budget required for the second generation star-formation, we offer two solutions. Either a top-heavy initial mass function is needed with an index of −1.71 to −2.07. Alternatively, we suggest the shell-stars to have a truncated mass distribution, and solve the mass budget problem by justifiably accounting for only a fraction of the first generation. Conclusions. Star-forming shells around cool supergiants could form the second generation of low-mass stars in Galactic globular clusters. Even without forming a photoionizaton-confined shell, the cool supergiant stars predicted at low-metallicity could contribute to the pollution of the interstellar medium of the cluster from which the second generation was born. Thus, the cool supergiant stars should be regarded as important contributors to the evolution of globular clusters.

Sodium abundances of AGB and RGB stars in Galactic globular clusters

Aims. We investigate the Na abundance distribution of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in Galactic globular clusters (GCs) and its possible dependence on GC global properties, especially age and metallicity. Methods. We analyze high-resolution spectra of a large sample of AGB and red giant branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic GCs NGC 104, NGC 6121, and NGC 6809 obtained with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at ESO/VLT, and determine their Na abundances. This is the first time that the AGB stars in NGC 6809 are targeted. Moreover, to investigate the dependence of AGB Na abundance dispersion on GC parameters, we compare the AGB [Na/H] distributions of a total of nine GCs, with five determined by ourselves with homogeneous method and four from literature, covering a wide range of GC parameters. Results. NGC 104 and NGC 6809 have comparable AGB and RGB Na abundance distributions revealed by the K−S test, while NGC 6121 shows a lack of very Na-rich AGB stars. By analyzing all nine GCs, we find that the Na abundances and multiple populations of AGB stars form complex picture. In some GCs, AGB stars have similar Na abundances and/or second-population fractions as their RGB counterparts, while some GCs do not have Na-rich second-population AGB stars, and various cases exist between the two extremes. In addition, the fitted relations between fractions of the AGB second population and GC global parameters show that the AGB second-population fraction slightly anticorrelates with GC central concentration, while no robust dependency can be confirmed with other GC parameters. Conclusions. Current data roughly support the prediction of the fast-rotating massive star (FRMS) scenario. However, considering the weak observational and theoretical trends where scatter and exceptions exist, the fraction of second-population AGB stars can be affected by more than one or two factors, and may even be a result of stochasticity.

Atypical Mg-poor Milky Way Field Stars with Globular Cluster Second-generation-like Chemical Patterns

Abstract We report the peculiar chemical abundance patterns of 11 atypical Milky Way (MW) field red giant stars observed by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). These atypical giants exhibit strong Al and N enhancements accompanied by C and Mg depletions, strikingly similar to those observed in the so-called second-generation (SG) stars of globular clusters (GCs). Remarkably, we find low Mg abundances ([Mg/Fe] < 0.0) together with strong Al and N overabundances in the majority (5/7) of the metal-rich ([Fe/H] ≳ −1.0) sample stars, which is at odds with actual observations of SG stars in Galactic GCs of similar metallicities. This chemical pattern is unique and unprecedented among MW stars, posing urgent questions about its origin. These atypical stars could be former SG stars of dissolved GCs formed with intrinsically lower abundances of Mg and enriched Al (subsequently self-polluted by massive AGB stars) or the result of exotic binary systems. We speculate that the stars Mg-deficiency as well as the orbital properties suggest that they could have an extragalactic origin. This discovery should guide future dedicated spectroscopic searches of atypical stellar chemical patterns in our Galaxy, a fundamental step forward to understanding the Galactic formation and evolution.

Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution Parallaxes and Proper Motions for Five Galactic Globular Clusters

Abstract We present a pilot study of Galactic globular cluster (GC) proper motion (PM) determinations using Gaia data. We search for GC stars in the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) catalog from Gaia Data Release 1 (DR1), and identify five members of NGC 104 (47 Tucanae), one member of NGC 5272 (M3), five members of NGC 6121 (M4), seven members of NGC 6397, and two members of NGC 6656 (M22). By taking a weighted average of member stars, fully accounting for the correlations between parameters, we estimate the parallax (and, hence, distance) and PM of the GCs. This provides a homogeneous PM study of multiple GCs based on an astrometric catalog with small and well-controlled systematic errors and yields random PM errors similar to existing measurements. Detailed comparison to the available Hubble Space Telescope (HST) measurements generally shows excellent agreement, validating the astrometric quality of both TGAS and HST. By contrast, comparison to ground-based measurements shows that some of those must have systematic errors exceeding the random errors. Our parallax estimates have uncertainties an order of magnitude larger than previous studies, but nevertheless imply distances consistent with previous estimates. By combining our PM measurements with literature positions, distances, and radial velocities, we measure Galactocentric space motions for the clusters and find that these also agree well with previous analyses. Our analysis provides a framework for determining more accurate distances and PMs of Galactic GCs using future Gaia data releases. This will provide crucial constraints on the near end of the cosmic distance ladder and provide accurate GC orbital histories.