We present the first evidence of clear signatures of tidal distortions in the density distribution of the fascinating open cluster NGC 6791. We used deep and wide-field data obtained with the Canada-France-Hawaii-Telescope covering a 2x2 square degre
es area around the cluster. The two-dimensional density map obtained with the optimal matched filter technique shows a clear elongation and an irregular distribution starting from ~300 from the cluster center. At larger distances, two tails extending in opposite directions beyond the tidal radius are also visible. These features are aligned to both the absolute proper motion and to the Galactic center directions. Moreover, other overdensities appear to be stretched in a direction perpendicular to the Galactic plane. Accordingly to the behaviour observed in the density map, we find that both the surface brightness and the star count density profiles reveal a departure from a King model starting from ~600 from the center. These observational evidence suggest that NGC 6791 is currently experiencing mass loss likely due to gravitational shocking and interactions with the tidal field. We use this evidence to argue that NGC 6791 should have lost a significant fraction of its original mass. A larger initial mass would in fact explain why the cluster survived so long. Using available recipes based on analytic studies and N-body simulations, we derived the expected mass loss due to stellar evolution and tidal interactions and estimated the initial cluster mass to be M_ini=(1.5-4) x 10^5 M_sun.
All old Galactic Globular Clusters studied in detail to date host at least two generations of stars, where the second is formed from gas polluted by processed material produced by massive stars of the first. This process can happen if the initial mas
s of the cluster exceeds a threshold above which ejecta are retained and a second generation is formed. A determination of this mass-threshold is mandatory in order to understand how GCs form. We analyzed 9 RGB stars belonging to the cluster Ruprecht 106. Targets were observed with the UVES@VLT2 spectrograph. Spectra cover a wide range and allowed us to measure abundances for light (O,Na,Mg,Al), alpha (Si,Ca,Ti), iron-peak (Sc,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Zn) and neutron-capture (Y,Zr,Ba,La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Dy,Pb) elements. Based on these abundances we show that Ruprecht 106 is the first convincing example of a single population GC (i.e. a true simple stellar population), although the sample is relatively small. This result is supported also by an independent photometric test and by the HB morphology and the dynamical state. It is old (~12 Gyrs) and, at odds with other GCs, has no alpha-enhancement. The material it formed from was contaminated by both s- and r- process elements. The abundance pattern points toward an extragalactic origin. Its present day mass (M=10^4.83 Msun) can be assumed as a strong lower limit for the initial mass threshold below which no second generation is formed. Clearly, its initial mass must have been significantly greater but we have no current constraints on the amount of mass loss during its evolution.
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 evolv
ed 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.
In this paper we present a study and comparison of the star formation rates (SFR) in the fields around NGC 1898 and NGC 2154, two intermediate-age star clusters located in very different regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud. We also present a photom
etric study of NGC 1898, and of seven minor clusters which happen to fall in the field of NGC 1898, for which basic parameters were so far unknown. We do not focus on NGC 2154, because this cluster was already investigated in Baume et al. 2007, using the same theoretical tools. The ages of the clusters were derived by means of the isochrone fitting method on their $clean$ color-magnitude diagrams. Two distinct populations of clusters were found: one cluster (NGC 2154) has a mean age of 1.7 Gyr, with indication of extended star formation over roughly a 1 Gyr period, while all the others have ages between 100 and 200 Myr. The SFRs of the adjacent fields were inferred using the downhill-simplex algorithm. Both SFRs show enhancements at 200, 400, 800 Myr, and at 1, 6, and 8 Gyr. These bursts in the SFR are probably the result of dynamical interactions between the Magellanic Clouds (MCs), and of the MCs with the Milky Way.
NGC 6791 is a unique stellar system among Galactic open clusters being at the same time one of the oldest open clusters and the most metal rich. Combination of its properties is puzzling and poses question of its origin. One possible scenario is that
the cluster formed close to the Galactic Center and later migrated outwards to its current location. In this work we study the clusters orbit and investigate the possible migration processes which might have displaced NGC 6791 to its present-day position, under the assumption that it actually formed in the inner disk. To this aim we performed integrations of NGC 6791s orbit in a potential consistent with the main Milky Way parameters. In addition to analytical expressions for halo, bulge and disk, we also consider the effect of bar and spiral arm perturbations, which are expected to be very important for the disk dynamical evolution, especially inside the solar circle. Starting from state-of-the art initial conditions for NGC 6791, we calculate 1000 orbits back in time for about 1 Gyr turning on and off different non-axisymmetric components of the global potential. We then compare statistical estimates of the clusters recent orbital parameters with the orbital parameters of 10^4 test-particles originating close to the Galactic Center (having initial galocentric radii in the range of 3-5 kpc) and undergoing radial migration during 8 Gyr of forward integration. We find that a model which incorporates a strong bar and spiral arm perturbations can indeed be responsible for the migration of NGC 6791 from the inner disk (galocentric radii of 3-5 kpc) to its present-day location. Such a model can provide orbital parameters which are close enough to the observed ones. However, the probability of this scenario as it results from our investigations is very low.
Context: The Ara OB1a association is a nearby complex in the fourth Galactic quadrant where a number of young/embedded star clusters are projected close to more evolved, intermediate age clusters. It is also rich in interstellar matter, and contains
evidence of the interplay between massive stars and their surrounding medium, such as the rim HII region NGC 6188. Aims: We provide robust estimates of the fundamental parameters (age and distance) of the two most prominent stellar clusters, NGC 6167 and NGC 6193, that may be used as a basis for studing the star formation history of the region. Methods: The study is based on a photometric optical survey (UBVIHa) of NGC 6167 and NGC 6193 and their nearby field, complemented with public data from 2MASS-VVV, UCAC3, and IRAC-Spitzer in this region. Results: We produce a uniform photometric catalogue and estimate more robustly the fundamental parameters of NGC 6167 and NGC 6193, in addition to the IRAS 16375-4854 source. As a consequence, all of them are located at approximately the same distance from the Sun in the Sagittarius-Carina Galactic arm. However, the ages we estimate differ widely: NGC 6167 is found to be an intermediate-age cluster (20-30 Myr), NGC 6193 a very young one (1-5 Myr) with PMS, H? emitters and class II objects, and the IRAS 16375-4854 source is the youngest of the three containing several YSOs. Conclusions: These results support a picture in which Ara OB1a is a region where star formation has proceeded for several tens of Myr until the present. The difference in the ages of the different stellar groups can be interpreted as a consequence of a triggered star formation process. In the specific case of NGC 6193, we find evidence of possible non-coeval star formation.
Globular clusters are useful to test the validity of Newtonian dynamics in the low acceleration regime typical of galaxies, without the complications of non-baryonic dark matter. Specifically, in absence of disturbing effects, e.g. tidal heating, the
ir velocity dispersion is expected to vanish at large radii. If such behaviour is not observed, and in particular if, as observed in elliptical galaxies, the dispersion is found constant at large radii below a certain threshold acceleration, this might indicate a break down of Newtonian dynamics. To minimise the effects of tidal heating in this paper we study the velocity dispersion profile of two distant globular clusters, NGC 1851 and NGC 1904. The velocity dispersion profile is derived from accurate radial velocities measurements, obtained at the ESO 8m VLT telescope. Reliable data for 184 and 146 bona fide cluster star members, respectively for NGC 1851 and NGC 1904, were obtained. These data allow to trace the velocity dispersion profile up to ~2r0, where r0 is the radius at which the cluster internal acceleration of gravity is a0 = 10e-8 cm/s/s. It is found that in both clusters the velocity dispersion becomes constant beyond ~r0. These new results are fully in agreement with those found for other five globular clusters previously investigated as part of this project. Taken all together, these 7 clusters support the claim that the velocity dispersion is constant beyond r0, irrespectively of the specific physical properties of the clusters: mass, size, dynamical history, and distance from the Milky Way. The strong similarly with the constant velocity dispersion observed in elliptical galaxies beyond r0 is suggestive of a common origin for this phenomenon in the two class of objects, and might indicate a breakdown of Newtonian dynamics below a0.
We present optical ($UBVI_C$) observations of a rich and complex field in the Galactic plane towards $l sim 305^{circ}$ and $b sim 0^{circ}$. Our analysis reveals a significantly high interstellar absorbtion ($A_V sim 10$) and an abnormal extinction
law in this line of sight. Availing a considerable number of color combinations, the photometric diagrams allow us to derive new estimates of the fundamental parameters of the two open clusters Danks~1 and Danks~2. Due to the derived abnormal reddening law in this line of sight, both clusters appear much closer (to the Sun) than previously thought. % Additionally, we present the optical colors and magnitudes of the WR~48a star and its main parameters were estimated. The properties of the two embedded clusters DBS2003~130 and 131, are also addressed. We identify a number of Young Stellar Objects which are probable members of these clusters. This new material is then used to revisit the spiral structure in this sector of the Galaxy showing evidence of populations associated with the inner Galaxy Scutum-Crux arm.
We investigate the distribution of Blue Straggler stars in the field of three open star clusters. The main purpose is to highlight the crucial role played by general Galactic disk fore-/back-ground field stars, which are often located in the same reg
ion of the Color Magnitude Diagram as Blue Straggler stars. We analyze photometry taken from the literature of 3 open clusters of intermediate/old age rich in Blue Straggler stars, and which are projected in the direction of the Perseus arm, and study their spatial distribution and the Color Magnitude Diagram. As expected, we find that a large portion of the Blue Straggler population in these clusters are simply young field stars belonging to the spiral arm. This result has important consequences on the theories of the formation and statistics of Blue Straggler stars in different population environments: open clusters, globular clusters or dwarf galaxies. As previously emphasized by many authors, a detailed membership analysis is mandatory before comparing the Blue Straggler population in star clusters against theoretical models. Moreover, these sequences of young field stars (blue plumes) are potentially powerful tracers of Galactic structure which require further consideration.
