No Arabic abstract
CCD photometry on the intermediate-band vbyCaHbeta system is presented for the metal-deficient open cluster, NGC 2420. Restricting the data to probable single members of the cluster using the CMD and the photometric indices alone generates a sample of 106 stars at the cluster turnoff. The average E(b-y) = 0.03 +/- 0.003 (s.e.m.) or E(B-V) = 0.050 +/- 0.004 (s.e.m.), where the errors refer to internal errors alone. With this reddening, [Fe/H] is derived from both m1 and hk, using b-y and Hbeta as the temperature index. The agreement among the four approaches is reasonable, leading to a final weighted average of [Fe/H] = -0.37 +/- 0.05 (s.e.m.) for the cluster, on a scale where the Hyades has [Fe/H] = +0.12. When combined with the abundances from DDO photometry and from recalibrated low-resolution spectroscopy, the mean metallicity becomes [Fe/H] = -0.32 +/- 0.03. It is also demonstrated that the average cluster abundances based upon either DDO data or low-resolution spectroscopy are consistently reliable to 0.05 dex or better, contrary to published attempts to establish an open cluster metallicity scale using simplistic offset corrections among different surveys.
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.
We report on a UV-oriented imaging survey in the fields of the old, metal-rich open clusters, NGC 6791, NGC 6819 and NGC 7142. These three clusters represent both very near and ideal stellar aggregates to match the distinctive properties of the evolved stellar populations, as in elliptical galaxies and bulges of spirals. The CMD of the three clusters is analyzed in detail, with special emphasis to the hot stellar component. We report, in this regard, one new extreme horizontal-branch star candidate in NGC 6791. For NGC 6819 and 7142, the stellar luminosity function points to a looser radial distribution of faint lower Main Sequence stars, either as a consequence of cluster dynamical interaction with the Galaxy or as an effect of an increasing fraction of binary stars toward the cluster core, as actually observed in NGC 6791 too.
We present UBVI photometry of the old open cluster NGC 1193. Color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of this cluster show a well defined main sequence and a sparse red giant branch. For the inner region of r<50 arcsec, three blue straggler candidates are newly found in addition to the objects Kaluzny (1988) already found. The color-color diagrams show that the reddening value toward NGC 1193 is E(B-V) =0.19 +/- 0.04. From the ultraviolet excess measurement, we derived the metallicity to be [Fe/H]=-0.45 +/- 0.12. A distance modulus of (m-M)_0 =13.3 +/- 0.15 is obtained from zero age main sequence fitting with the empirically calibrated Hyades isochrone of Pinsonneault et al. (2004). CMD comparison with the Padova isochrones by Bertelli et al. (1994) gives an age of log t =9.7 +/- 0.1.
We present the results of CCD $UBV$ photometric and spectroscopic observations of the open cluster NGC 225. In order to determine the structural parameters of NGC 225, we calculated the stellar density profile in the clusters field. We estimated the probabilities of the stars being physical members of the cluster using the existing astrometric data. The most likely members of the cluster were used in the determination of the astrophysical parameters of the cluster. We calculated the mean radial velocity of the cluster as $V_{r}=-8.3pm 5.0$ km s$^{-1}$ from the optical spectra of eight stars in the clusters field. Using the U-B vs B-V two-colour diagram and UV excesses of the F-G type main-sequence stars, the reddening and metallicity of NGC 225 were inferred as $E(B-V)=0.151pm 0.047$ mag and $[Fe/H]=-0.11pm 0.01$ dex, respectively. We fitted the colour-magnitude diagrams of NGC 225 with the PARSEC isochrones and derived the distance modulus, distance and age of the cluster as $mu_{V}=9.3pm 0.07$ mag, d=585$pm$20 pc and $t=900pm 100$ Myr, respectively. We also estimated the galactic orbital parameters and space velocity components of the cluster and found that the cluster has a slightly eccentric orbit of $e=0.07pm 0.01$ and an orbital period of $P_{orb}= 255pm 5$ Myr.
UBVI CCD photometry is obtained for the open clusters NGC 4609 and Hogg 15 in Crux. For NGC 4609, CCD data are presented for the first time. From new photometry we derive the reddening, distance modulus and age of each cluster - NGC 4609 : E(B-V) = 0.37 +/- 0.03, V_0 - M_V = 10.60 +/- 0.08, log tau = 7.7 +/- 0.1; Hogg 15 : E(B-V) = 1.13 +/- 0.11, V_0 - M_V = 12.50 +/- 0.15, log tau <= 6.6. The young age of Hogg 15 strongly implies that WR 47 is a member of the cluster. We have also determined the mass function of these clusters and have obtained a normal slope (Gamma = -1.2 +/- 0.3) for NGC 4609 and a somewhat shallow slope (Gamma = -0.95 +/- 0.5) for Hogg 15.