Optical Color-magnitude Diagrams Research Articles

The Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury: Triangulum Extended Region (PHATTER). VI. The High-mass Stellar Initial Mass Function of M33

We measure the high-mass stellar initial mass function (IMF) from resolved stars in M33 young stellar clusters. Leveraging the Hubble Space Telescope’s high resolving power, we fully model the IMF probabilistically. We first model the optical color–magnitude diagram of each cluster to constrain its power-law slope Γ, marginalized over other cluster parameters in the fit (e.g., cluster age, mass, and radius). We then probabilistically model the distribution of mass function (MF) slopes for a highly strict cluster sample of nine clusters more massive than log(Mass/M ⊙) = 3.6; above this mass, all clusters have well-populated main sequences of massive stars and should have accurate recovery of their MF slopes, based on extensive tests with artificial clusters. We find that the ensemble IMF is best described by a mean high-mass slope of Γ¯=1.49±0.18 , with an intrinsic scatter of σΓ2=0.020.00+0.16 , consistent with a universal IMF. We find no dependence of the IMF on environmental impacts such as the local star formation rate (SFR) or galactocentric radius within M33, which serves as a proxy for metallicity. This Γ¯ measurement is consistent with similar measurements in M31, despite M33 having a much higher SFR intensity. While this measurement is formally consistent with the canonical Kroupa (Γ = 1.30) IMF, as well as the Salpeter (Γ = 1.35) value, it is the second Local Group cluster sample to show evidence for a somewhat steeper high-mass IMF slope. We explore the impacts a steeper IMF slope has on a number of astronomical subfields.

UVIT Study of the MAgellanic Clouds (U-SMAC) I. Recent star formation history and kinematics of the Shell region in the North-Eastern Small Magellanic Cloud

Abstract The interactions between the Magellanic Clouds significantly affect the shape and distribution of the young stellar population, particularly in the periphery of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We present the first far-UV (FUV) map of the north-east SMC-Shell region using the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard AstroSat. The detected FUV stars are combined with Gaia Early Data Release 3 data to create a FUV–optical catalog of ∼ 14,400 stars. FUV–optical colour-magnitude diagrams are used along with isochrones to estimate the stellar ages. The detected stars are formed in multiple episodes. We identified two episodes of star formation (∼ 60 and ∼ 260 Myr ago) where the episode at ∼ 260 Myr is linked to the recent interaction with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the episode at ∼ 60 Myr is linked to the pericentric passage of the SMC around our Galaxy. The median proper motion (PM) and velocity dispersion are found to be similar to the SMC main body, indicating that this region has not experienced significant tidal effects. The FUV stellar surface density and the dispersion in PM suggest an extent of the inner SMC in the north-east direction to be around 2.2 deg. We detect arm-like and arc-like structures in the FUV stellar density map, and their kinematics appear to be similar to the SMC main body. These extended outer features are the spatial stellar overdensities formed over multiple episodes of star formation, but without apparent kinematic distinction.

Hunting down white dwarf–main sequence binaries using multiwavelength observations

ABSTRACT Identification of white dwarfs (WD) with main-sequence (MS) companions and characterization of their properties can put important constraints on our understanding of binary stellar evolution and guide the theoretical predictions for a wide range of interesting transient events relevant for, e.g. Rubin Observatory (LSST), ZTF, and LISA. In this study, we combine ultraviolet (UV) and optical colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) to identify unresolved WD–MS binaries. In particular, we combine high-precision astrometric and photometric data in the optical from Gaia-DR3 and UV data from GALEX GR6/7 to identify 93 WD–MS candidates within 100 pc. Of these, 80 are newly identified. Using the Virtual Observatory SED Analyzer (VOSA), we fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of all our candidates and derive stellar parameters, such as effective temperature, bolometric luminosity, and radius for both companions. We find that our identification method helps identify hotter and smaller WD companions (majority with ≥10 000 K and ≤0.02 R⊙) relative to the WDs identified by past surveys. We infer that these WDs are relatively more massive (median ∼ $0.76\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$). We find that most of the MS companions in our binaries are of the K and M spectral types.

UOCS-IX. AstroSat/UVIT Study of the Open Cluster NGC 2818: Blue Stragglers, Yellow Stragglers, Planetary Nebula, and their Membership

We present the first far-UV (FUV) imaging results of the intermediate-age Galactic open cluster NGC 2818 that has a planetary nebula (PN) within the field using images taken from the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat. We identify cluster members by combining UVIT-detected sources with Gaia EDR3 data. We detect four bright and hot blue straggler stars (BSSs) and two yellow straggler stars (YSSs) based on their location in optical and FUV–optical color–magnitude diagrams. Based on the parameters estimated using spectral energy distributions, we infer that BSSs are either collisional products or might have undetectable white dwarf (WD) companions. Our photometric analysis of YSSs confirms their binarity, consistent with the spectroscopic results. We find YSSs to be formed through a mass-transfer scenario and the hot components are likely to be A-type subdwarfs. A comparison of the radial velocity, Gaia EDR3 proper motion of the PN with the cluster, and reddening toward the PN and the cluster does not rule out the membership of the PN. Comparing the central star’s position with theoretical post‐AGB (pAGB) models suggest that it has already entered the WD cooling phase, and its mass is deduced to be ∼0.66 M ⊙. The corresponding progenitor mass turns out to be ∼2.1 M ⊙, comparable to the turn-off mass of the cluster, implying that the progenitor could have formed in the cluster. We suggest that the NGC 2818 might be one of the few known clusters to host a PN, providing a unique opportunity to test stellar evolution models.

Models for metal-poor stars with different initial abundances of C, N, O, Mg, and Si − III. Grids of isochrones for −2.5 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −0.5 and helium abundances Y = 0.25 and 0.29 at each metallicity

ABSTRACT Stellar evolutionary tracks for $0.12 \le {\cal M}/{\cal M_{\odot }}\le 1.0$ have been computed for each of several variations in the abundances of C, N, and O, assuming mass-fraction helium abundances Y = 0.25 and 0.29, and 11 metallicities in the range −2.5 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −0.5, in 0.2-dex increments. Such computations are provided for mixtures with [O/Fe] between +0.4 and +0.8, for different C:N:O ratios at a fixed value of [CNO/Fe] and for enhanced C. Computer codes are provided to interpolate within these grids to produce isochrones for ages ${\gtrsim}7$ Gyr and to generate magnitudes and colours for many broad-band filters using bolometric corrections based on MARCS model atmospheres and synthetic spectra. The models are compared with (i) similar computations produced by other workers, (ii) observed UV, optical, and IR colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), (iii) the effective temperatures, (V − IC)0 and (V − KS)0 colours of Pop. II stars in the solar neighbourhood, and (iv) empirical data for the absolute magnitude of the tip of the red-giant branch (TRGB). The isochrones are especially successful in reproducing the observed morphologies of optical CMDs and in satisfying the TRGB constraints. They also fare quite well in explaining the IR colours of low-mass stars in globular clusters, indicating that they have [O/Fe] ≈ +0.6, though some challenges remain.

The Internal Line-of-Sight Kinematics of NGC 346: The Rotation of the Core Region

We present the stellar radial velocity analysis of the central of the young massive Small Magellanic Cloud star cluster NGC 346. Using VLT/MUSE integral field spectroscopy in combination with Hubble Space Telescope photometry, we extract 103 spectra of cluster member stars suited to measure accurate line-of-sight kinematics. The cluster member stars show two distinct velocity groups at and , relative to the systemic velocity of (165.5 ± 0.2) km s−1, and hint at a third group at . We show that there is neither a correlation between the velocity groups and the spatial location of the stars, nor their locus on optical color–magnitude diagrams, which makes the stellar velocity a key parameter to separate individual stellar components in such a young star cluster. Velocity group 2 shows clear rotation with Ω2 =(−0.4 ± 0.1) Myr−1, corresponding to (−4.9 ± 0.7) km s−1 at radial distance of 10 pc from the center, a possible remnant of the formation process of NGC 346 through the hierarchical collapse of the giant molecular cloud. The ionizing gas has lost any natal kinematic imprint and shows clear expansion, driven by far-ultraviolet fluxes and stellar winds of the numerous OB stars in the cluster center. The size of this expanding bubble and its expansion velocity of 7.9 km s−1 are in excellent agreement with the estimate that the latest star formation episode occurred about two million years ago.

Tucana B: A Potentially Isolated and Quenched Ultra-faint Dwarf Galaxy at D ≈ 1.4 Mpc* *This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

We report the discovery of Tucana B, an isolated ultra-faint dwarf galaxy at a distance of D = 1.4 Mpc. Tucana B was found during a search for ultra-faint satellite companions to the known dwarfs in the outskirts of the Local Group, although its sky position and distance indicate the nearest galaxy to be ∼500 kpc distant. Deep ground-based imaging resolves Tucana B into stars, and it displays a sparse red giant branch consistent with an old, metal-poor stellar population analogous to that seen in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxies of the Milky Way, albeit at fainter apparent magnitudes. Tucana B has a half-light radius of 80 ± 40 pc and an absolute magnitude of mag ( L ⊙), which is again comparable to the Milky Way’s ultra-faint satellites. There is no evidence for a population of young stars, either in the optical color–magnitude diagram or in GALEX archival ultraviolet imaging, with the GALEX data indicating for star formation on ≲100 Myr timescales. Given its isolation and physical properties, Tucana B may be a definitive example of an ultra-faint dwarf that has been quenched by reionization, providing strong confirmation of a key driver of galaxy formation and evolution at the lowest mass scales. It also signals a new era of ultra-faint dwarf galaxy discovery at the extreme edges of the Local Group.

Stellar populations of the globular cluster NGC 5053 investigated using AstroSat-Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope

ABSTRACT Globular clusters (GCs), being old and densely packed, serve as ideal laboratories to test stellar evolution theories. Although there is enormous literature on GCs in optical bands, studies in the ultraviolet (UV) regime are sparse. In this work, we study the stellar populations of a metal-poor and a rather dispersed GC, NGC 5053, using the UV instrument of AstroSat, namely the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope in three far-UV (F154W, F169M, F172M) and three near-UV (N219M, N245M, N263M) filters. Photometry was carried out on these images to construct a catalogue of UV stars, of which the cluster members were identified using Gaia EDR3 catalogue. UV and optical colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) help us locate known stellar populations such as blue horizontal branch stars, RR-Lyrae stars, red horizontal branch stars, blue straggler stars (BSSs), SX-Phe, red giant branch, and AGB stars. Based on their locations in the CMDs, we have identified eight new BSS candidates, six probable eBSSs, and an extreme horizontal branch candidate. Their nature has been confirmed by fitting their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) with stellar atmospheric models. We believe the BSS population of this cluster is likely to have a collisional origin based on our analyses of their radial distribution and SEDs. BaSTI-IAC isochrones were generated to characterize the cluster properties, and we find that the observed brightness and colours of cluster members are best fit with a model that is α-enhanced with Y =0.247, [Fe/H] = −1.9, and age =12.5 ± 2.0 Gyr.

Globular Cluster UVIT Legacy Survey (GlobULeS) – I. FUV–optical colour–magnitude diagrams for eight globular clusters

ABSTRACT We present the first results of eight globular clusters (GCs) from the AstroSat/UVIT Legacy Survey programme GlobULeS based on the observations carried out in two far-ultraviolet (FUV) filters (F148W and F169M). The FUV–optical and FUV–FUV colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of GCs with the proper motion membership were constructed by combining the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) data with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV Globular Cluster Survey data for inner regions and Gaia Early Data Release for regions outside the HST’s field. We detect sources as faint as F148W ∼ 23.5 mag, which are classified based on their locations in CMDs by overlaying stellar evolutionary models. The CMDs of eight GCs are combined with the previous UVIT studies of three GCs to create stacked FUV–optical CMDs to highlight the features/peculiarities found in the different evolutionary sequences. The FUV (F148W) detected stellar populations of 11 GCs comprise 2816 horizontal branch (HB) stars [190 extreme HB (EHB) candidates], 46 post-HB (pHB), 221 blue straggler stars (BSSs), and 107 white dwarf (WD) candidates. We note that the blue HB colour extension obtained from F148W − G colour and the number of FUV detected EHB candidates are strongly correlated with the maximum internal helium (He) variation within each GC, suggesting that the FUV–optical plane is the most sensitive to He abundance variations in the HB. We discuss the potential science cases that will be addressed using these catalogues including HB morphologies, BSSs, pHB, and WD stars.

Unveiling the nature of 12 new low-luminosity Galactic globular cluster candidates

Context. The Galactic globular cluster system is incompletely known, especially in the low-latitude regions of the Galactic bulge and disk. We report the physical characterisation of 12 star clusters in the Milky Way, most of which are explored here for the first time. Aims. Our primary aim is determining their main physical parameters, such as reddening, extinction, metallicity, age, total luminosity, mean cluster proper motions (PMs), and distances, in order to reveal the physical nature of these clusters. Methods. We study the clusters using optical and near-infrared (NIR) datasets. In particular, we use the Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) PMs in order to perform a PM decontamination procedure and build final catalogues with probable members. We match the Gaia EDR3 with the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea extended (VVVX) survey and the Two Micron All-Sky survey (2MASS) in the NIR, in order to construct complete NIR and optical colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and investigate the clusters properties. Results. The extinctions are evaluated using existing reddening maps. We find ranges spanning 0.09 ≲ AKs ≲ 0.86 mag and 0.89 ≲ AG ≲ 4.72 mag in the NIR and optical, respectively. Adopting standard intrinsic red clump (RC) magnitudes and extinction values, we first obtain the distance modulus for each cluster and thereafter their heliocentric distances, which range from about 4 to 20 kpc. Therefore, we are able to place these clusters at 3 ≲ RG ≲ 14 kpc from the Galactic centre. The best PARSEC isochrone fit yields a metallicity range of −1.8 < [Fe/H] < +0.3 and an approximate age range of 2 < age < 14 Gyr. Finally, we find that all clusters have low luminosities, with −6.9 < MV < −3.5 mag. Conclusions. Based on our photometric analysis, we find both open clusters (OCs) and globular clusters (GCs) in our sample. In particular, we confirm the OC nature for Kronberger 100, while we classify Patchick 125 as a metal-poor GC, Ferrero 54 as a metal-rich GC, and ESO 92-18 as a possible old OC or young GC. The classification as GC candidates is also suggested for Kronberger 99, Patchick 122, Patchick 126, Riddle 15, FSR 190, and Gaia 2. We also conclude that Kronberger 119 and Kronberger 143 might be either old OCs or young GCs.

Deep V and I CCD photometry of young star cluster NGC 1893 with the 3.6m DOT

Young star clusters consisting of massive stars are the ideal sites to study the star formation processes and influence of massive stars on the subsequent star formation. NGC 1893 is a young star cluster associated with the Hii region Sh2-236. It contains about five ‘O’-type stars and several early ‘B’-type stars. It is located at a moderate distance of $$\sim $$ 3.25 kpc and has a reddening, $$E(B-V) \sim 0.4$$ mag. To characterize the young low-mass stellar population in the central portion of the cluster, we carried out deep VI band observations of the region using the $$4\mathrm{K} \times 4$$ K CCD IMAGER mounted on the 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope. Our analysis shows that the present data are deep enough to detect stars below $$V\sim 24$$ mag. We found optical counterparts of $$\sim $$ 220 candidates, including young stars and unclassified cluster members from Caramazza et al. (2008). We estimated the membership probabilities of the Gaia sources (mostly bright stars with $$G<19$$ mag) located within the cluster radius using the Gaia EDR3. Toward the fainter end, we used the optical color-magnitude diagram (CMD) to select the cluster members from a sample of young stars. The locations of young stars on the CMD show that a majority of them are low-mass stars with age <10 Myr. The unclassified candidates and X-ray sources from Caramazza et al. (2012) are also found to be young low-mass stars. In total, we identified $$\sim $$ 425 young stars with age <10 Myr, and 110 of these are new. Most of these stars appear as kinematic members of the cluster. By examining the CMD for the stars in the cluster region, we suggest that the cluster has insignificant contamination due to field stars in the pre-main-sequence zone of the CMD. The slope of the mass function in the mass range $$0.2\le M/M_\odot \le 2.5$$ is found to be $$\Gamma = -\,1.43 \pm 0.15$$ , consistent with those of other star-forming complexes. The spatial distribution of the young stars as a function of mass suggests that toward the cluster center, most of the stars are massive.

Expanding the Time Domain of Multiple Populations: Evidence of Nitrogen Variations in the ∼1.5 Gyr Old Star Cluster NGC 1783

Abstract We present the result of a detailed analysis of Hubble Space Telescope UV and optical deep images of the massive and young (∼1.5 Gyr) stellar cluster NGC 1783 in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This system does not show evidence of multiple populations (MPs) along the red giant branch (RGB) stars. However, we find that the cluster main sequence (MS) shows evidence of a significant broadening (50% larger than what is expected from photometric errors) along with hints of possible bimodality in the MP sensitive (m F343N − m F438W, m F438W) color–magnitude diagram (CMD). Such an effect is observed in all color combinations including the m F343N filter, while it is not found in the optical CMDs. This observational evidence suggests we might have found light-element chemical abundance variations along the MS of NGC 1783, which represents the first detection of MPs in a system younger than 2 Gyr. A comparison with isochrones including MP-like abundances shows that the observed broadening is compatible with a N abundance enhancement of Δ([N/Fe]) ∼ 0.3. Our analysis also confirms previous results about the lack of MPs along the cluster RGB. However, we find that the apparent disagreement between the results found on the MS and the RGB is compatible with the mixing effects linked to the first dredge up. This study provides new key information about the MP phenomenon and suggests that star clusters form in a similar way at any cosmic age.

Correction to: UV photometry of spotted stars in the horizontal branch of the globular cluster NGC 2808 using AstroSat

A recent study of hot (20,000 to 30,000 K) extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars in globular clusters (GCs) has led to the discovery of their variability. It is suggested that this variability is driven by the projected rotation of magnetic spots on the stellar surfaces and is expected to have higher amplitudes at shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the analysis of such hot stars in the massive GC NGC 2808 using the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), aboard AstroSat. We use the UVIT data in combination with the Hubble Space Telescope UV Globular Cluster Survey (HUGS) data for the central region (within $\sim$ $2.7'$ $\times$ $2.7'$) and ground-based optical photometry for the outer parts of the cluster. We generate the far-UV (FUV) - optical colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and in these we find a population of hot EHB stars fainter than the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) model. A comparison of our FUV magnitudes of the already reported variable EHB stars (vEHBs) shows that the longest period vEHBs are the faintest, along with a tentative correlation between rotation period and UV magnitude of spotted stars. In order to firmly establish any correlation, further study is essential.

Identification of emission-line stars in transition phase from pre-main sequence to main sequence

ABSTRACT Pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars evolve into main-sequence (MS) phase over a period of time. Interestingly, we found a scarcity of studies in existing literature that examine and attempt to better understand the stars in PMS to MS transition phase. The purpose of this study is to detect such rare stars, which we named as ‘transition phase’ (TP) candidates – stars evolving from the PMS to the MS phase. We identified 98 TP candidates using photometric analysis of a sample of 2167 classical Be (CBe) and 225 Herbig Ae/Be (HAeBe) stars. This identification is done by analysing the near- and mid-infrared excess and their location in the optical colour–magnitude diagram. The age and mass of 58 of these TP candidates are determined to be between 0.1–5 Myr and 2–10.5 M⊙, respectively. The TP candidates are found to possess rotational velocity and colour excess values in between CBe and HAeBe stars, which is reconfirmed by generating a set of synthetic samples using the machine learning approach.

UV photometry of spotted stars in the horizontal branch of the globular cluster NGC 2808 using AstroSat

A recent study of hot (20,000 to 30,000 K) extreme horizontal branch (EHB) stars in globular clusters (GCs) has led to the discovery of their variability. It is suggested that this variability is driven by the projected rotation of magnetic spots on the stellar surfaces and is expected to have higher amplitudes at shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the analysis of such hot stars in the massive GC NGC 2808 using the UltraViolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), aboard AstroSat. We use the UVIT data in combination with the Hubble Space Telescope UV globular cluster survey (HUGS) data for the central region (within \(\sim \)\(2.7'\) \(\times \) \(2.7'\)) and ground-based optical photometry for the outer parts of the cluster. We generate the Far-UV (FUV)–optical colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and in these we find a population of hot EHB stars fainter than the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) model. A comparison of our FUV magnitudes of the already reported variable EHB stars (vEHBs) shows that the longest period vEHBs are the faintest, along with a tentative correlation between rotation period and UV magnitude of spotted stars. In order to firmly establish any correlation, further study is essential.

Calibrating X-Ray Binary Luminosity Functions via Optical Reconnaissance. I. The Case of M83

Abstract Building on recent work by Chandar et al., we construct X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) for different classes of X-ray binary (XRB) donors in the nearby star-forming galaxy M83 through a novel methodology. Rather than classifying low- versus high-mass XRBs based on the scaling of the number of X-ray sources with stellar mass and star formation rate, respectively, we utilize multiband Hubble Space Telescope imaging data to classify each Chandra-detected compact X-ray source as a low-mass (i.e., donor mass ≲3 M ⊙), high-mass (donor mass ≳8M ⊙), or intermediate-mass XRB based on either the location of its candidate counterpart on optical color–magnitude diagrams or the age of its host star cluster. In addition to the standard (single and/or truncated) power-law functional shape, we approximate the resulting XLFs with a Schechter function. We identify a marginally significant (at the 1σ-to-2σ level) exponential downturn for the high-mass XRB XLF, at ℓ ≃ 38.48 − 0.33 + 0.52 (in log CGS units). In contrast, the low- and intermediate-mass XRB XLFs, as well as the total XLF of M83, are formally consistent with sampling statistics from a single power law. Our method suggests a non-negligible contribution from low- and possibly intermediate-mass XRBs to the total XRB XLF of M83, i.e., between 20% and 50%, in broad agreement with X-ray-based XLFs. More generally, we caution against considerable contamination from X-ray emitting supernova remnants to the published, X-ray-based XLFs of M83, and possibly all actively star-forming galaxies.

Multiple Stellar Populations in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars of Galactic Globular Clusters

Abstract Multiple stellar populations (MPs) are a distinct characteristic of globular clusters (GCs). Their general properties have been widely studied among main-sequence, red giant branch (RGB), and horizontal branch (HB) stars, but a common framework is still missing at later evolutionary stages. We studied the MP phenomenon along the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) sequences in 58 GCs, observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in UV and optical filters. Using UV–optical color–magnitude diagrams, we selected the AGB members of each cluster and identified the AGB candidates of the metal-enhanced population in type II GCs. We studied the photometric properties of the AGB stars and compared them to theoretical models derived from synthetic spectral analysis. We observed the following features: (i) the spread of AGB stars in photometric indices sensitive to variations of light elements and helium is typically larger than that expected from photometric errors; (ii) the fraction of metal-enhanced stars in the AGB is lower than that in the RGB in most of the type II GCs; (iii) the fraction of 1G stars derived from the chromosome map of AGB stars in 15 GCs is larger than that of RGB stars; and (v) the AGB/HB frequency correlates with the average mass of the most helium-enriched population. These findings represent clear evidence of the presence of MPs along the AGB of Galactic GCs and indicate that a significant fraction of helium-enriched stars, which have lower mass in the HB, do not evolve to the AGB phase, leaving the HB sequence toward higher effective temperatures, as predicted by the AGB manqué scenario.

UOCS – III. UVIT catalogue of open clusters with machine learning-based membership using Gaia EDR3 astrometry

ABSTRACT We present a study of six open clusters (Berkeley 67, King 2, NGC 2420, NGC 2477, NGC 2682, and NGC 6940), using the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard ASTROSAT and Gaia EDR3. We used combinations of astrometric, photometric, and systematic parameters to train and supervise a machine-learning algorithm along with a Gaussian mixture model for the determination of cluster membership. This technique is robust, reproducible, and versatile in various cluster environments. In this study, the Gaia EDR3 membership catalogues are provided along with classification of the stars as members, candidates, and field in the six clusters. We could detect 200–2500 additional members using our method with respect to previous studies, which helped estimate mean space velocities, distances, number of members and core radii. UVIT photometric catalogues, which include blue stragglers, main-sequence, and red giants are also provided. From UV–Optical colour–magnitude diagrams, we found that majority of the sources in NGC 2682 and a few in NGC 2420, NGC 2477, and NGC 6940 showed excess UV flux. NGC 2682 images have 10 white dwarf detection in far-UV. The far-UV and near-UV images of the massive cluster NGC 2477 have 92 and 576 members, respectively, which will be useful to study the UV properties of stars in the extended turn-off and in various evolutionary stages from main sequence to red clump. Future studies will carry out panchromatic and spectroscopic analysis of noteworthy members detected in this study.

Study of UV-bright stellar populations in the globular cluster NGC 1261 using Astrosat

ABSTRACT We present UV photometry of the globular cluster NGC 1261 using images acquired with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on board Astrosat. We performed point-spread function (PSF) photometry on four near-UV (NUV) and two far-UV (FUV) images and constructed UV colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs), in combination with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), Gaia, and ground-based optical photometry for member stars. We detected the full horizontal branch (HB) in the NUV and blue HB in the FUV and identified two extreme HB (EHB) stars. HB stars have a tight sequence in UV–optical CMDs, well fitted with isochrones generated (age 12.6 Gyr, [Fe/H] = −1.27 metallicity) using updated BaSTI-IAC models. Effective temperatures (Teff), luminosities, and radii of bright HB stars were estimated using the spectral energy distribution. As we detect the complete sample of UV-bright HB stars, the hot end of the HB distribution is found to terminate at the G-jump ($T_{\rm eff}\, \sim$ 11500 K). The two EHB stars, fitted well with single spectra, have Teff = 31000 K and a mass = 0.495 M⊙, and follow the same Teff–radius relation as the blue HB stars. We constrain the formation pathways of these EHB stars to extreme mass loss in the RGB phase (due either to rotation or enhanced helium) or a early hot-flash scenario.

Three-dimensional Structure and Dust Extinction in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Abstract We examine the three-dimensional structure and dust extinction properties in a ∼200 pc × 100 pc region in the southwest bar of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We model a deep Hubble Space Telescope optical color–magnitude diagram (CMD) of red clump and red giant branch stars in order to infer the dust extinction and galactic structure. We model the distance distribution of the stellar component with a Gaussian and find a centroid distance of 65.2 kpc (distance modulus μ = 19.07 mag) with an FWHM ≈ 11.3 kpc. This large extent along the line of sight reproduces results from previous studies using variable stars and red clump stars. Additionally, we find an offset between the stellar and dust distributions, with the dust on the near side relative to the stars by 3.22 kpc, resulting in a 73% reddened fraction of stars. Modeling the dust layer with a log-normal A V distribution indicates a mean extinction 〈A V 〉 = 0.41 ± 0.09 mag. We also calculate A V /N H = 3.2–4.2 × 10−23 mag cm2 H−1, which is significantly lower than the Milky Way value but is comparable to previous SMC dust-to-gas ratio measurements. Our results yield the first joint dust extinction and 3D geometry properties in a key region in the SMC. This study demonstrates that CMD modeling can be a powerful tool to simultaneously constrain dust extinction and geometry properties in nearby galaxies.