No Arabic abstract
TX Cnc is a member of the young open cluster NGC 2632. In the present paper, four CCD epochs of light minimum and a complete V light curve of TX Cnc are presented. A period investigation based on all available photoelectric or CCD data showed that it is found to be superimposed on a long-term increase ($dP/dt=+3.97times{10^{-8}}$,days/year), and a weak evidence suggests that it includes a small-amplitude period oscillation ($A_3=0.^{d}0028$; $T_3=26.6,years$). The light curves in the V band obtained in 2004 were analyzed with the 2003 version of the W-D code. It was shown that TX Cnc is an overcontact binary system with a degree of contact factor $f=24.8%(pm0.9%)$. The absolute parameters of the system were calculated: $M_1=1.319pm0.007M_{odot}$, $M_2=0.600pm0.01M_{odot}$; $R_1=1.28pm0.19R_{odot}$, $R_2=0.91pm0.13R_{odot}$. TX Cnc may be on the TRO-controlled stage of the evolutionary scheme proposed by Qian (2001a, b; 2003a), and may contains an invisible tertiary component ($m_3approx0.097M_{odot}$). If this is true, the tertiary component has played an important role in the formation and evolution of TX Cnc by removing angular momentum from the central system(Pribulla & Rucinski, 2006). In this way the contact binary configuration can be formed in the short life time of a young open cluster via AML.
We present a comprehensive photometric analysis of a young open cluster NGC 1960 (M36) along with the long-term variability study of this cluster. Based on the kinematic data of Gaia DR2, the membership probabilities of 3871 stars are ascertained in the cluster field among which 262 stars are found to be cluster members. Considering the kinematic and trigonometric measurements of the cluster members, we estimate a mean cluster parallax of 0.86+/-0.05 mas and mean proper motions of mu_RA = -0.143+/-0.008 mas/yr, mu_Dec = -3.395+/-0.008 mas/yr. We obtain basic parameters of the cluster such as E(B-V) = 0.24+/-0.02 mag, log(Age/yr)=7.44+/-0.02, and distance = 1.17+/-0.06 kpc. The mass function slope in the cluster for the stars in the mass range of 0.72-7.32 M_solar is found to be gamma = -1.26+/-0.19. We find that mass segregation is still taking place in the cluster which is yet to be dynamically relaxed. This work also presents first high-precision variability survey in the central 13x13 among which 72 are periodic variables. Among them, 59 are short-period (P<1 day)and 13 are long-period (P>1 day). The variable stars have V magnitudes ranging between 9.1 to 19.4 mag and periods between 41 minutes to 10.74 days. On the basis of their locations in the H-R diagram, periods and characteristic light curves, the 20 periodic variables belong to the cluster. We classified them as 2 delta-Scuti, 3 gamma-Dor, 2 slowly pulsating B stars, 5 rotational variables, 2 non-pulsating B stars and 6 as miscellaneous variables.
Deep and extensive CCD photometric observations $UBV(RI)_{C}H_{alpha}$ were carried out in the area of the open cluster NGC 3293. The new data set allows to see the entire cluster sequence down to $M_{V} approx +4.5$, revealing that stars with $M_{V} < -2$ are evolving off the main sequence; stars with $-2 < M_{V} < +2$ are located on the main sequence and stars with $M_{V} > +2$ are placed above it. According to our analysis, the cluster distance is $d = 2750 pm 250 pc$ ($V_{0}-M_{V} = 12.2 pm 0.2$) and its nuclear age is $8 pm 1 Myr$. NGC 3293 contains an important fraction of pre--main sequence (PMS) stars distributed along a parallel band to the ZAMS with masses from 1 to $2.5 cal M_{sun}$ and a mean contraction age of $10 Myr$. This last value does not differ too much from the nuclear age estimate. Actually, if we take into account the many factors that may affect the PMS star positions onto the colour--magnitude diagram, both ages can be perfectly reconciled. The star formation rate, on the other hand, suggests that NGC 3293 stars formed surely in one single event, therefore favouring a coeval process of star formation. Besides, using the $H_{alpha}$ data, we detected nineteen stars with signs of having $H_{alpha}$ emission in the region of NGC 3293, giving another indication that the star formation process is still active in the region. The computed initial mass function for the cluster has a slope value $x = 1.2 pm 0.2$, a bit flatter than the typical slope for field stars and similar to the values found for other young open clusters.
Young open clusters are ideal laboratories to understand star formation process. We present deep UBV I and Halpha 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 Halpha 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 ^+0.24 _-0.20 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 a steeper shape (Gamma = -1.49 +/- 0.14) than that of the Salpeter/Kroupa initial mass function for the high mass regime (m > 1 M_sun). 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 region of this cluster. We finally discuss the star formation history in NGC 281.
Precision uvbyCa Hbeta photometry of the metal-deficient, old open cluster, NGC 2506, is presented. The survey covers an area 20 by 20 arcminutes, and extends to V~18 for b-y and Hbeta and to V~17.0 for c_1 and hk. For V < 16.0, photometric scatter among the indices leads to the recovery of 6 known variables within the cluster core and 5 new variables in the outer 5 arcmin of the survey field. Proper motions, radial velocities, and precise multicolor indices are used to isolate a highly probable sample of cluster members from the very rich color-magnitude diagram (CMD). From 257 highly probable members at the cluster turnoff, we derive a reddening estimate of E(b-y) = 0.042 +/- 0.001 (E(B-V) = 0.058 +/- 0.001), where the errors refer to the internal standard errors of the mean. [Fe/H] is derived from the A/F dwarf members using both m_1 and hk, leading to [Fe/H] = -0.296 +/- 0.011 (sem) and -0.317 +/- 0.004 (sem), respectively. The weighted average, heavily dominated by hk, is [Fe/H] = -0.316 +/- 0.033. Based upon red giant members, we place an upper limit of +/- 0.010 on the variation in the reddening across the face of the cluster. We also identify two dozen potential red giant cluster members outside the cluster core. Victoria-Regina isochrones on the Stromgren system produce an excellent match to the cluster for an apparent modulus of (m-M) = 12.75 +/- 0.1 and an age of 1.85 +/- 0.05 Gyr.
In this paper we analyse the evolutionary status and properties of the old open cluster NGC 2355, located in the Galactic anticentre direction, as a part of the long term programme BOCCE. NGC 2355 was observed with LBC@LBT using the Bessel $B$, $V$, and $I_c$ filters. The cluster parameters have been obtained using the synthetic colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) method, as done in other papers of this series. Additional spectroscopic observations with FIES@NOT of three giant stars were used to determine the chemical properties of the cluster. Our analysis shows that NGC 2355 has metallicity slightly less than solar, with [Fe/H]$=-0.06$ dex, age between 0.8 and 1 Gyr, reddening $E(B-V)$ in the range 0.14 and 0.19 mag, and distance modulus $(m-M)_0$ of about 11 mag. We also investigated the abundances of O, Na, Al, $alpha$, iron-peak, and neutron capture elements, showing that NGC 2355 falls within the abundance distribution of similar clusters (same age and metallicity). The Galactocentric distance of NGC~2355 places it at the border between two regimes of metallicity distribution; this makes it an important cluster for the study of the chemical properties and evolution of the disc.