No Arabic abstract
The morphology and cluster membership of the Galactic open clusters - Czernik 20 and NGC 1857 were analyzed using two different clustering algorithms. We present the maiden use of density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) to determine open cluster morphology from spatial distribution. The region of analysis has also been spatially classified using a statistical membership determination algorithm. We utilized near infrared (NIR) data for a suitably large region around the clusters from the United Kingdom Infrared Deep Sky Survey Galactic Plane Survey star catalogue database, and also from the Two Micron All Sky Survey star catalogue database. The densest regions of the cluster morphologies (1 for Czernik 20 and 2 for NGC 1857) thus identified were analyzed with a K-band extinction map and color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs). To address significant discrepancy in known distance and reddening parameters, we carried out field decontamination of these CMDs and subsequent isochrone fitting of the cleaned CMDs to obtain reliable distance and reddening parameters for the clusters (Czernik 20: D = 2900 pc; E(J-K) = 0.33; NGC 1857: D = 2400 pc; E(J-K) = 0.18-0.19). The isochrones were also used to convert the luminosity functions for the densest regions of Czernik 20 and NGC 1857 into mass function, to derive their slopes. Additionally, a previously unknown over-density consistent with that of a star cluster is identified in the region of analysis.
We analysed the open clusters Czernik 2 and NGC 7654 using CCD UBV photometric and Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) photometric and astrometric data. Structural parameters of the two clusters were derived, including the physical sizes of Czernik 2 being r=5 and NGC 7654 as 8 min. We calculated membership probabilities of stars based on their proper motion components as released in the Gaia EDR3. To identify member stars of the clusters, we used these membership probabilities taking into account location and the impact of binarity on main-sequence stars. We used membership probabilities higher than $P=0.5$ to identify 28 member stars for Czernik 2 and 369 for NGC 7654. We estimated colour-excesses and metallicities separately using two-colour diagrams to derive homogeneously determined parameters. The derived $E(B-V)$ colour excess is 0.46(0.02) mag for Czernik 2 and 0.57(0.04) mag for NGC 7654. Metallicities were obtained for the first time for both clusters, -0.08(0.02) dex for Czernik 2 and -0.05(0.01) dex for NGC 7654. Keeping the reddening and metallicity as constant quantities, we fitted PARSEC models using colour-magnitude diagrams, resulting in estimated distance moduli and ages of the two clusters. We obtained the distance modulus for Czernik 2 as 12.80(0.07) mag and for NGC 7654 as 13.20(0.16) mag, which coincide with ages of 1.2(0.2) Gyr and 120(20) Myr, respectively. The distances to the clusters were calculated using the Gaia EDR3 trigonometric parallaxes and compared with the literature. We found good agreement between the distances obtained in this study and the literature. Present day mass function slopes for both clusters are comparable with the value of Salpeter (1955), being X=-1.37(0.24) for Czernik 2 and X=-1.39(0.19) for NGC 7654.
Classical Cepheids in open clusters play an important role in benchmarking stellar evolution models, anchoring the cosmic distance scale, and invariably securing the Hubble constant. NGC 6649, NGC 6664 and Berkeley 55 are three pertinent clusters that host classical Cepheids and red (super)giants, and an analysis was consequently initiated to assess newly acquired spectra ($approx$50), archival photometry, and $Gaia$ DR2 data. Importantly, for the first time chemical abundances are determined for the evolved members of NGC 6649 and NGC 6664. We find that they are slightly metal-poor relative to the mean Galactic gradient, and an overabundance of Ba is observed. Those clusters likely belong to the thin disc, and the latter finding supports DOrazi et al. (2009) $s$-enhanced scenario. NGC 6664 and Berkeley 55 exhibit radial velocities consistent with Galactic rotation, while NGC 6649 displays a peculiar velocity. The resulting age estimates for the clusters ($approx$70 Ma) imply masses for the (super)giant demographic of $approx$6 M$_{sun}$. Lastly, the observed yellow-to-red (super)giant ratio is lower than expected, and the overall differences relative to models reflect outstanding theoretical uncertainties.
We present the broad band UBVI CCD photometric investigations in the region of the two open clusters Haffner 11 and Czernik 31. The radii of the clusters are determined as 3.5 arcmin and 3.0 arcmin for Haffner 11 and Czernik 31 respectively. Using two colour (U-B) versus (B-V) diagram we determine the reddening E(B-V) = 0.50+/-0.05 mag and 0.48+/-0.05 mag for the cluster Haffner 11 and Czernik 31 respectively. Using 2MASS JHKs and optical data, we determined E(J-K) = 0.27+/-0.06 mag and E(V-K) = 1.37+/-0.06 for Haffner 11 and E(J-K) = 0.26+/-0.08 mag and E(V-K) = 1.32+/-0.08 mag for Czernik 31. Our analysis indicate normal interstellar extinction law in the direction of both the clusters. Distance of the clusters is determined as 5.8+/-0.5 Kpc for Haffner 11 and 3.2+/-0.3 Kpc for Czernik 31 by comparing the ZAMS with the CM diagram of the clusters. The age of the cluster has been estimated as 800+/-100 Myr for Haffner 11 and 160+/-40 Myr for Czernik 31 using the stellar isochrones of metallicity Z = 0.019.
We present the first $BVI$ CCD photometry to $V=22.0$ of 4 fields centered on the region of the southern Galactic star clusters Ruprecht~61, Czernik~32, NGC 2225 and NGC 2262 and of 4 displaced control fields. These clusters were never studied before, and we provide for the first time estimates of their fundamental parameters, namely radial extent, age, distance and reddening. We find that the four clusters are all of intermediate age (around 1 Gyr), close to the Sun and possess lower than solar metal abundance.
We present BVI photometry for poorly known southern hemisphere open clusters: NGC 2425, Haffner 10 and Czernik 29. We have calculated the density profile and established the number of stars in each cluster. The colour-magnitude diagrams of the objects show a well-defined main sequence. However, the red giant clump is present only in NGC 2425 and Haffner 10. For these two clusters we estimated the age as 2.5 +/- 0.5 Gyr assuming metallicity of Z=0.008. The apparent distance moduli are in the ranges 13.2<(m-M)_V<13.6 and 14.3<(m-M)_V<14.7, while heliocentric distances are estimated to be 2.9<d<3.8 kpc and 3.1<d<4.3 kpc, respectively for NGC 2425 and Haffner 10. The angular separation of 2.4 deg (150 pc at mean distance) may indicate a common origin of the two clusters.