We present the results of the first CCD BVRI photometric and proper motion study of late-type stars in the young open cluster Stock 2. Twenty-one fields of approximately 5'x5' size have been observed photometrically, from which we have identified 118 candidate members based on their positions on colour-magnitude diagrams relative to theoretical isochrones. From a comparison of the known star density of the Pleiades, we estimate the contamination of this selection process due to background stars to be as large as ~50%. However, only 22 of those 118 candidate members have proper motions consistent with membership, suggesting that the contamination is of the order of 80%. Additional candidate members were found by means of a proper motion analysis of Schmidt plate material for a 3{deg}x3{ deg} field containing the cluster. The cluster proper motion allows us to separate members from background and foreground stars. We have found 634 stars with a membership probability >=50% down to a limiting magnitude of B=~20, corresponding to late-M dwarfs at the distance of Stock 2.
The uvby{beta} photometric system is widely used for the study of various Galactic and extragalactic objects. It measures the colour due to temperature differences, the Balmer discontinuity, and blanketing absorption due to metals. A new all-sky catalogue of all available uvby{beta} measurements from the literature was generated. The data for the individual stars were cross-checked on the basis of the Tycho-2 catalogue.
CCD photometry on the intermediate-band uvbyCaH{beta} system is presented for the open cluster, NGC 3680. Restricting the data to probable cluster members using the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and the photometric indices alone defines a sample of 34 stars at the cluster turnoff that imply E(b-y)=0.042+/-0.002(s.e.m.) or E(B-V)=0.058+/-0.003(s.e.m.), where the errors refer to internal errors alone. With this reddening, [Fe/H] is derived from both m_1_ and hk using both b-y and H{beta} as the temperature indices.
By studying young open clusters, the mechanisms important for star formation over several Myr can be examined. For example, accretion rate as a function of rotational velocity can be investigated. Similarly, sequential star formation triggered by massive stars with high mass-loss rates can be studied in detail. We identified and characterized probable members of NGC 6383, as well as determined cluster parameters. New Stromgren uvby CCD photometry, obtained by us, is presented. This new data, together with Johnson UBV and 2MASS data in the NIR, was used to investigate characteristics of pre- as well as zero age main sequence cluster members. We present Stromgren uvby CCD photometry for 272 stars in the field of NGC 6383 and derive its reddening, E(b-y)=0.21(4)mag, as well as distance, d=1.7(3)kpc from the Sun. Several stars with NIR excess and objects in the domain of the classical Herbig Ae/Be and T Tauri stars were detected. Two previously known variables were identified as rapidly-rotating PMS stars. The field population is clearly separated from the probable members in the color-magnitude diagram. NGC 6383 is a young open cluster, with an age of less than 4Myr, undergoing continuous star formation. True pre-main sequence members might be found down to absolute magnitudes of +6mag, with a variety of rotational velocities and stellar activities.
CCD photometry on the intermediate-band uvbyCaH system is presented for the old open cluster NGC 6253. Despite a high level of field star contamination because of its location toward the Galactic center, combination of the data from the multiple color indices with the core cluster sample derived from radial star counts leads to the identification of a set of highly probable, single cluster members.
CCD photometry on the intermediate-band vbyCaH{beta} 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.
We have studied over 1600 Am stars at a photometric precision of 1mmag with SuperWASP photometric data. Contrary to previous belief, we find that around 200 Am stars are pulsating delta Sct and gamma Dor stars, with low amplitudes that have been missed in previous, less extensive studies. While the amplitudes are generally low, the presence of pulsation in Am stars places a strong constraint on atmospheric convection, and may require the pulsation to be laminar. While some pulsating Am stars have been previously found to be delta Sct stars, the vast majority of Am stars known to pulsate are presented in this paper. They will form the basis of future statistical studies of pulsation in the presence of atomic diffusion.
The Amateur Sky Survey (TASS) is a loose confederation of amateur and professional astronomers. We describe the design and construction of our Mark III system, a set of wide-field drift-scan CCD cameras which monitor the celestial equator down to 13th magnitude in several passbands. We explain the methods by which images are gathered, processed, and reduced into lists of stellar positions and magnitudes. Over the period 1996 October to 1998 November, we compiled a large database of photometric measurements. One of our results is the tenxcat catalog, which contains measurements on the standard Johnson-Cousins system for 367,241 stars; it contains links to the light curves of these stars as well.
