No Arabic abstract
We present new SDSS and Washington photometry of the young, outer-halo stellar system, Segue 3. Combined with archival VI-observations, our most consistent results yield: $Z=0.006$, $log(Age)=9.42$, $(m-M)_0=17.35$, $E(B-V)=0.09$, with a high binary fraction of $0.39pm 0.05$, using the Padova models. We confirm that mass segregation has occurred, supporting the hypothesis that this cluster is being tidally disrupted. A 3-parameter King model yields a cluster radius of $r_{cl}=0.017^circ$, a core radius of $r_{c}=0.003^circ$, and a tidal radius of $r_t=0.04^circ pm 0.02^circ$. A comparison of Padova and Dartmouth model-grids indicates that the cluster is not significantly $alpha$-enhanced, with a mean [Fe/H]$=-0.55^{+0.15}_{-0.12}$ dex, and a population age of only $2.6pm 0.4$ Gyr. We rule out a statistically-significant age spread at the main sequence turnoff because of a narrow subgiant branch, and discuss the role of stellar rotation and cluster age, using Dartmouth and Geneva models: approximately 70% of the Seg 3 stars at or below the main sequence turnoff have enhanced rotation. Our results for Segue 3 indicate that it is younger and more metal-rich than all previous studies have reported to-date. From colors involving Washington-C and SDSS-u filters, we identify several giants and a possible blue-straggler for future follow-up spectroscopic studies, and we produce spectral energy distributions of previously known members and potential Segue 3 sources with Washington ($CT_1$), Sloan (ugri), and VI-filters. Segue 3 shares the characteristics of unusual stellar systems which have likely been stripped from external dwarf galaxies as they are being accreted by the Milky Way, or that have been formed during such an event. Its youth, metallicity, and location are all inconsistent with Segue 3 being a cluster native to the Milky Way.
We have derived the absolute proper motion (PM) of the globular cluster M55 using a large set of CCD images collected with the du Pont telescope between 1997 and 2008. We find (PM_RA*cos(DEC), PM_DEC) = (-3.31 +/- 0.10, -9.14 +/- 0.15) mas/yr relative to background galaxies. Membership status was determined for 16 945 stars with 14<V<21 from the central part of the cluster. The PM catalogue includes 52 variables of which 43 are probable members of M55. This sample is dominated by pulsating blue straggler stars but also includes 5 eclipsing binaries, three of which are main sequence objects. The survey also identified several candidate blue, yellow and red straggler stars belonging to the cluster. We detected 15 likely members of the Sgr dSph galaxy located behind M55. The average PM for these stars was measured to be (PM_RA*cos(DEC), PM_DEC)=(-2.23 +/- 0.14, -1.83 +/- 0.24) mas/yr.
Context. Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are ubiquitous in the Milky Way, yet they play a crucial role in breeding newly-formed stars. Aims. With the aim of further understanding the dynamics, chemistry, and evolution of IRDCs, we carried out multi-wavelength observations on a small sample. Methods. We performed new observations with the IRAM 30 m and CSO 10.4 m telescopes, with tracers ${rm HCO^+}$, HCN, ${rm N_2H^+}$, ${rm C^{18}O}$, DCO$^+$, SiO, and DCN toward six IRDCs G031.97+00.07, G033.69-00.01, G034.43+00.24, G035.39-00.33, G038.95-00.47, and G053.11+00.05. Results. We investigated 44 cores including 37 cores reported in previous work and seven newly-identified cores. Toward the dense cores, we detected 6 DCO$^+$, and 5 DCN lines. Using pixel-by-pixel spectral energy distribution (SED) fits of the $textit{Herschel}$ 70 to 500 $mu$m, we obtained dust temperature and column density distributions of the IRDCs. We found that ${rm N_2H^+}$ emission has a strong correlation with the dust temperature and column density distributions, while ${rm C^{18}O}$ showed the weakest correlation. It is suggested that ${rm N_2H^+}$ is indeed a good tracer in very dense conditions, but ${rm C^{18}O}$ is an unreliable one, as it has a relatively low critical density and is vulnerable to freezing-out onto the surface of cold dust grains. The dynamics within IRDCs are active, with infall, outflow, and collapse; the spectra are abundant especially in deuterium species. Conclusions. We observe many blueshifted and redshifted profiles, respectively, with ${rm HCO^+}$ and ${rm C^{18}O}$ toward the same core. This case can be well explained by model envelope expansion with core collapse (EECC).
We present radio observations of the galaxy merger remnant Mrk 212 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the upgraded Giant Meter Radio Telescope (uGMRT). Mrk 212 has two previously known radio sources associated with the two optical nuclei, S1 and S2, with a projected separation of ~6 kpc, making it a dual active galactic nuclei (AGN) candidate. Our new 15 GHz VLA observations reveal that S1 is a double radio source centred around the optical nucleus; its total extent is ~750 parsec and its average 1.4-8.5 GHz spectral index is -0.81 +/- 0.06. S1 therefore, resembles a compact symmetric object (CSO). The 15 GHz VLA image identifies the radio source at S2 to be a compact core. Our radio observations therefore strongly support the presence of a dual AGN in Mrk 212. The optical emission line flux ratios obtained from the Himalayan Chandra Telescope (HCT) observations however, show that S1 and S2 both fall in the AGN + SF (star formation) region of the BPT diagram. Weak AGN lying in the SF or AGN + SF intermediate regions in the BPT diagram have indeed been reported in the literature; our sources clearly fall in the same category. We find an extended radio structure in our newly reduced 8.5 GHz VLA data, that is offset by ~1 from the optical nucleus S2. New deep FUV and NUV observations with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) aboard AstroSat reveal SF knots around S2 as well as kpc-scale tidal tails; the SF knots around S2 coincide with the extended radio structure detected at 8.5 GHz. The radio spectral indices are consistent with SF. Any possible association with the AGN in S2 is unclear at this stage.
Using UBVRI Halpha CCD photometric observations and the archival NIR and X-ray data, we have carried out a multi-wavelength study of a young star cluster NGC 7419. An age of 22.5+/-3.0 Myr and a distance of 3230^{+330}_{-430} pc are derived for the cluster with a higher value of color excess ratio E(U-B)/E(B-V) than the normal one. There is an evidence for mass segregation in this dynamically relaxed cluster with mass function slope is in agreement with the Salpeter value. NIR and Halpha excess support the existence of a young (< 2 Myr) stellar population of Herbig Ae/Be stars (> 3.0 M_sun) indicating a second episode of star formation in the cluster region. Using XMM-Newton observations, we found several X-ray sources in the cluster region but none of the Herbig Ae/Be stars is detected in X-rays. We compare the distribution of upper limits for Herbig Ae/Be stars with the X-ray distribution functions of the T-Tauri and the Herbig Ae/Be stars from previous studies, and found that the X-ray emission level of these Herbig Ae/Be stars is not more than L_X ~5.2 x 10^{30} erg/s, which is not significantly higher than for the T-Tauri stars. Therefore, X-ray emission from Herbig Ae/Be stars could be the result of either unresolved companion stars or a process similar to T-Tauri stars. We report an extended X-ray emission from the cluster region NGC 7419, with a total L_X estimate of ~ 1.8 x 10^31 erg/s/arcmin^2. Investigation of dust and CO map of 1 degree region around the cluster indicates the presence of a foreground dust cloud which is most likely associated with star forming region Sh2-154. This cloud harbors uniformly distributed pre main sequence stars (0.1-2.0M_sun) and the star formation in this cloud depend mostly upon the primordial fragmentation.
We investigate the kinematic and photometric properties of the Segue 3 Milky Way companion using Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopy and Magellan/IMACS g and r-band imaging. Using maximum likelihood methods to analyze the photometry, we study the structure and stellar population of Segue 3. We find the half-light radius of Segue 3 is 26 +/- 5 (2.1 +/- 0.4 pc, for a distance of 17 kpc) and the absolute magnitude is a mere M_V = 0.0 +/- 0.8 mag, making Segue 3 the least luminous old stellar system known. We find Segue 3 to be consistent with a single stellar population, with an age of 12.0 +1.5/-0.4 Gyr and an [Fe/H] of -1.7 +0.07/-0.27. Line-of-sight velocities from the spectra are combined with the photometry to determine a sample of 32 stars which are likely associated with Segue 3. The member stars within three half-light radii have a velocity dispersion of 1.2 +/- 2.6 km/s. Photometry of the members indicates the stellar population has a spread in [Fe/H] of <0.3 dex. These facts, together with the small physical size of Segue 3, imply the object is likely an old, faint stellar cluster which contains no significant dark matter. We find tentative evidence for stellar mass loss in Segue 3 through the eleven candidate member stars outside of three half-light radii, as expected from dynamical arguments. Interpretation of the data outside of three half-light radii, is complicated by the objects spatial coincidence with a previously known halo substructure, which may enhance contamination of our member sample.