We present BVRcIc CCD photometry in the fields of six Galactic open clusters toward the Perseus spiral arm. These data, complemented with J, H and Ks magnitudes from 2MASS, have been used to determine the following ages, distances and colour excesses E(B-V) for these clusters: 40Myr, 3180_-380_^+440^pc, 0.54+/-0.03mag (Berkeley 96); 250Myr, 2410_-200_^+220^pc, 0.77+/-0.06mag (Berkeley 97); 70Myr, 2490_-170_^+180^pc, 0.51+/-0.05mag (King 12); 160Myr, 2830_-150_^+160^pc, 0.88+/-0.09mag (NGC 7261); 280Myr, 2450_-170_^+190^pc, 0.24+/-0.03mag (NGC 7296); 160Myr, 2750_-210_^+220^pc, 0.49+/-0.02mag (NGC 7788). We found gaps in the mass function of clusters Be 97, King 12 and NGC 7788 in the mass intervals [1.3-1.5], [1.4-1.6] and [1.5-1.7] solar masses, respectively.
Ages derived from the low mass stars still contracting onto the main sequence often differ from ages derived from the high mass ones that have already evolved away from it. We investigate the general claim of disagreement between these two independent age determinations by representing UBVRI photometry of the young galactic open clusters NGC 2232, NGC 2516, NGC 2547 and NGC 4755, spanning the age range ~10-150Myr.
Extensive optical and infrared photometry as well as low and high resolution spectroscopy are used as inputs in deriving robust estimates of the reddening, distance and nature of the progenitor of V838 Mon, the 2002 outbursting event that produced a most spectacular light-echo.
Deep CCD UBV(RI)c photometry has been carried out in the area of the open cluster Stock 16. The different photometric diagrams indicate the presence of three superimposed stellar groups, all composed of early type stars.
The Asiago photographic archive has been searched for plates containing the symbiotic stars Hen 2-468, QW Sge, LT Del, V407 Cyg, K 3-9, V335 Vul, FG Ser and Draco C-1. A total of 635 plates imaging the program stars have been found and the brightness estimated using the Henden & Munari (2000A&AS..143..343H) UBV(RI) photometric sequences. These historical data have allowed for the first time the determination of the orbital periods of Hen 2-468 (774 days) and QW Sge (390.5 days), a significant improvement in the orbital period of LT Del (465.6 days) and for V407 Cyg an evaluation of the Mira's pulsation period and complex lightcurve shape in the red (R and I bands). Some previously unknown outbursts have been discovered too.
We present a comprehensive UBVRI and Washington CT_1_T_2_ photometric analysis of seven catalogued open clusters, namely: Ruprecht 3, 9, 37, 74, 150, ESO 324-15 and 436-2. The multiband photometric data sets in combination with 2MASS photometry and Gaia astrometry for the brighter stars were used to estimate their structural parameters and fundamental astrophysical properties. We found that Ruprecht 3 and ESO 436-2 do not show self-consistent evidence of being physical systems. The remained studied objects are open clusters of intermediate age (9.0<=log(t[yr^-1^])<=9.6), of relatively small size (r_cls_~0.4-1.3pc) and placed between 0.6 and 2.9kpc from the Sun. We analysed the relationships between core, half-mass, tidal and Jacoby radii as well as half-mass relaxation times to conclude that the studied clusters are in an evolved dynamical stage. The total cluster masses obtained by summing those of the observed cluster stars resulted to be ~10-15 per cent of the masses of open clusters of similar age located closer than 2kpc from the Sun. We found that cluster stars occupy volumes as large as those for tidally filled clusters.
We present first results of our search for high-redshift galaxies in deep CCD mosaic images. As a pilot study for a larger survey, very deep images of the Chandra Deep Field South (CDFS), taken with WFI@MPG/ESO2.2m, are used to select large samples of 1070 U-band and 565 B-band dropouts with the Lyman-break method.
The very young open cluster NGC 6383 centered on the O-star binary HD 159176 is an interesting place for studying the impact of early-type stars with strong radiation fields and powerful winds on the formation processes of low-mass stars. To investigate this process, it is necessary to determine the characteristics (age, presence, or absence of circumstellar material) of the population of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in the cluster. We obtained deep U B V Rc Ic H{alpha} photometric data of the entire cluster as well as medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a subsample of X-ray selected objects. Our spectroscopic data reveal only very weak H{alpha} emission lines in a few X-ray selected PMS candidates. We photometrically identify a number of H-{alpha} emission candidates but their cluster membership is uncertain. We find that the fainter objects in the field of view have a wide range of extinction (up to A_V_=20), one X-ray selected OB star having A_V_~8. Our investigation uncovers a population of PMS stars in NGC 6383 that are probably coeval with HD 159176. In addition, we detect a population of reddened objects that are probably located at different depths within the natal molecular cloud of the cluster. Finally, we identify a rather complex spatial distribution of H{alpha} emitters, which is probably indicative of a severe contamination by foreground and background stars.
Deep and extensive CCD photometric observations at UBV(RI)cH{alpha} were carried out in the area of the open cluster NGC 3293. The new data set allows to see the entire cluster sequence down to Mv~+4.5, revealing that stars with Mv<-2 are evolving off the main sequence; stars with -2<Mv<+2 are located on the main sequence and stars with Mv>+2 are placed above it. According to our analysis, the cluster distance is d=2750+/-250pc (V0-Mv=12.2+/-0.2) and its nuclear age is 8+/-1Myr. NGC 3293 contains an important fraction of pre-main sequence (PMS) stars distributed along a parallel band to the ZAMS with masses from 1 to 2.5M_{sun}_ and a mean contraction age of 10Myr. This last value does not differ too much from the nuclear age estimate. If we take into account the many factors that may affect the PMS star positions on the colour-magnitude diagram, both ages can be perfectly reconciled. The star formation rate, on the other hand, suggests that NGC 3293 stars formed surely in one single event, therefore favouring a coeval process of star formation. Using the Halpha data, we detected nineteen stars with signs of Halpha emission in the region of NGC 3293, another indication that the star formation process is still active in the region. The computed initial mass function for the cluster has a slope of x=1.2+/-0.2, a bit flatter than the typical slope for field stars and similar to the values found for other young open clusters.
UBVRI H{alpha} CCD photometry has been obtained fro the young cluster NGC 2264. Using (R-H{alpha}) color, a measure of H{alpha} emission, we selected member stars in the pre-main sequence (PMS) stage.