- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/831/165
- Title:
- RR Lyrae as tracers in the Virgo overdensity region
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/831/165
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We use a combination of spatial distribution and radial velocity to search for halo substructures in a sample of 412 RR Lyrae stars (RRLSs) that covers a region of ~525 square degrees of the Virgo overdensity (VOD) and spans distances from the Sun from 4 to 75kpc. With a friends-of-friends algorithm we identified six high-significance groups of RRLSs in phase space, which we associate mainly with the VOD and with the Sagittarius stream. Four other groups were also flagged as less significant overdensities. Three high-significance and three lower-significance groups have distances between ~10 and 20kpc, which places them in the distance range attributed by others to the VOD. The largest of these is the Virgo stellar stream at 19kpc, which has 18 RRLSs, a factor of two increase over the number known previously. While these VOD groups are distinct according to our selection criteria, their overlap in position and distance and, in a few cases, similarity in radial velocity are suggestive that they may not all stem from separate accretion events. Even so, the VOD appears to be caused by more than one overdensity. The Sagittarius (Sgr) stream is a very obvious feature in the background of the VOD at a mean distance of 44kpc. Two additional high-significance groups were detected at distances >40kpc. Their radial velocities and locations differ from the expected path of the Sgr debris in this part of the sky, and they are likely to be remnants of other accretion events.
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Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/849/150
- Title:
- RR Lyrae candidates in the MW outer halo
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/849/150
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- RR Lyrae stars are ideal massless tracers that can be used to study the total mass and dark matter content of the outer halo of the Milky Way (MW). This is because they are easy to find in the light-curve databases of large stellar surveys and their distances can be determined with only knowledge of the light curve. We present here a sample of 112 RR Lyr stars beyond 50kpc in the outer halo of the MW, excluding the Sgr streams, for which we have obtained moderate-resolution spectra with Deimos on the Keck II Telescope. Four of these have distances exceeding 100kpc. These were selected from a much larger set of 447 candidate RR Lyr stars that were data-mined using machine-learning techniques applied to the light curves of variable stars in the Palomar Transient Facility database. The observed radial velocities taken at the phase of the variable corresponding to the time of observation were converted to systemic radial velocities in the Galactic standard of rest. From our sample of 112 RR Lyr stars we determine the radial velocity dispersion in the outer halo of the MW to be ~90km/s at 50kpc, falling to about 65km/s near 100 kpc once a small number of major outliers are removed. With reasonable estimates of the completeness of our sample of 447 candidates and assuming a spherical halo, we find that the stellar density in the outer halo declines as r^-4^.
1143. RR Lyrae Metallicities
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/III/176
- Title:
- RR Lyrae Metallicities
- Short Name:
- III/176
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- This catalog presents metal abundance, distance and radial velocity data on a sample of 302 ab-type RR Lyrae variables within about 2.5 kpc of the Sun. The metal abundance information was obtained from low-medium resolution spectra, using the pseudo-equivalent widths of the Ca II K line and the the H-delta, H-gamma and H-beta lines. The technique employed was similar to Preston's (1959ApJ...130..507P) {Delta}-S method, though significant differences exist; see the source reference for details. The data were calibrated to the Zinn & West (1984ApJS...55...45Z) globular cluster abundance scale. The photometry employed in the distance determinations was primarily taken from the General Catalog of Variable Stars (1985, hereafter GCVS4). Exceptions are noted in column 29; the letters match the footnotes in Table 10 of Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L). The minimum and maximum light photometry, and rise-time were combined following Barnes & Hawley (1986ApJ...307L...9B) to give an estimate of the intensity- averaged magnitude, i.e. the magnitude the star would have if it were not variable. When the GCVS4 quoted magnitudes in passbands other than V, the GCVS4 magnitudes were transformed to the V passband using the relations established in Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L). The interstellar absorption estimates are from Burstein & Heiles (1982AJ.....87.1165B), modified by a simple dust-distribution model. The distances were computed assuming the Mv(RR)-[Fe/H] relation of Carney, Storm & Jones (1992ApJ...386..663C). Radial velocities were measured from the spectra via cross-correlation with secondary velocity standards. The velocities from the individual spectra were fit with a standard radial velocity curve in the (phase, velocity) plane, to give an estimate of the systemic (center of mass) velocity of each star. The error in this value was estimated from the scatter about the best-fit velocity curve, and the quality of the spectra employed. Other methods were used to combine the individual velocities when the situation demanded (cm = 2,3 in column 70; see Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L) for details). The observed velocities were combined with values from the literature to produce a final, best estimate of the systemic radial velocity of each star, and its error.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/330/515
- Title:
- RR Lyrae parallaxes & proper motions
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/330/515
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have used HIPPARCOS proper motions and the method of Statistical Parallax to estimate the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. In addition we used the HIPPARCOS parallax of RR Lyrae itself to determine it's absolute magnitude. These two results are in excellent agreement with each other and give a zero-point for the RR Lyrae M_v_,[Fe/H] relation of 0.77+/-0.15 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. This zero-point is in good agreement with that obtained recently by several groups using Baade-Wesselink methods which, averaged over the results from the different groups, gives M_v_=0.73+/-0.14 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. Taking the HIPPARCOS based zero-point and a value of 0.18+/-0.03 for the slope of the M_v_,[Fe/H] relation from the literature we find firstly, the distance modulus of the LMC is 18.26+/-0.15 and secondly, the mean age of the Globular Clusters is 17.4+/-3.0 GYrs. These values are compared with recent estimates based on other "standard candles" that have also been calibrated with HIPPARCOS data. It is clear that, in addition to astrophysical problems, there are also problems in the application of HIPPARCOS data that are not yet fully understood.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+AS/125/313
- Title:
- RR Lyrae radial velocities and [Fe/H] I.
- Short Name:
- J/A+AS/125/313
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present systemic velocities and iron abundances for 56 RR Lyraes, the majority of which have been observed by the HIPPARCOS satellite. Comparison between our systemic velocities and previous values identifies several binary candidates only one of which, TU UMa, was previously suspected of being a binary. However, spectra of the unusual RR Lyrae BB Vir show no evidence of line doubling and hence do not support the recent claims that this star may have a Blue Horizontal Branch companion. Comparison between our abundances and previous determinations shows reasonable agreement except with the recent work of Layden (1994, Cat. <J/AJ/108/1016>) where we find systematic differences. Several of the stars included on the HIPPARCOS observing list as RR Lyraes are shown to be mis-classified. Of particular interest are the stars V363 Cas and AT And which, by analogy with XZ Cet, may be anomalous Cepheids.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+AS/125/321
- Title:
- RR Lyrae radial velocities and [Fe/H] II.
- Short Name:
- J/A+AS/125/321
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- This is the second of the papers devoted to derive radial velocities and iron abundances of field RR Lyraes observed by HIPPARCOS. Our abundances show good agreement with those in the literature obtained both from photometric ({DELTA}S index) and spectroscopic methods. Binary candidates and stars misclassified as RR Lyraes in the original HIPPARCOS list have been also identified.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/155/171
- Title:
- RR Lyrae stars in and around NGC 6441
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/155/171
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Detailed elemental abundance patterns of metal-poor ([Fe/H]~-1 dex) stars in the Galactic bulge indicate that a number of them are consistent with globular cluster (GC) stars and may be former members of dissolved GCs. This would indicate that a few per cent of the Galactic bulge was built up from destruction and/or evaporation of GCs. Here, an attempt is made to identify such presumptive stripped stars originating from the massive, inner Galaxy GC NGC 6441 using its rich RR Lyrae variable star (RRL) population. We present radial velocities of 40 RRLs centered on the GC NGC 6441. All 13 of the RRLs observed within the cluster tidal radius have velocities consistent with cluster membership, with an average radial velocity of 24+/-5 km/s and a star-to-star scatter of 11 km/s. This includes two new RRLs that were previously not associated with the cluster. Eight RRLs with radial velocities consistent with cluster membership but up to three time the distance from the tidal radius are also reported. These potential extra-tidal RRLs also have exceptionally long periods, which is a curious characteristic of the NGC 6441 RRL population that hosts RRLs with periods longer than seen anywhere else in the Milky Way. As expected of stripped cluster stars, most are inline with the cluster's orbit. Therefore, either the tidal radius of NGC 6441 is underestimated and/or we are seeing dissolving cluster stars stemming from NGC 6441 that are building up the old spheroidal bulge.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/826/224
- Title:
- RSG and foreground candidates in M31
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/826/224
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We investigate the red supergiant (RSG) population of M31, obtaining the radial velocities of 255 stars. These data substantiate membership of our photometrically selected sample, demonstrating that Galactic foreground stars and extragalactic RSGs can be distinguished on the basis of B-V, V-R two-color diagrams. In addition, we use these spectra to measure effective temperatures and assign spectral types, deriving physical properties for 192 RSGs. Comparison with the solar metallicity Geneva evolutionary tracks indicates astonishingly good agreement. The most luminous RSGs in M31 are likely evolved from 25-30 M_{sun}_ stars, while the vast majority evolved from stars with initial masses of 20 M_{sun}_ or less. There is an interesting bifurcation in the distribution of RSGs with effective temperatures that increases with higher luminosities, with one sequence consisting of early K-type supergiants, and with the other consisting of M-type supergiants that become later (cooler) with increasing luminosities. This separation is only partially reflected in the evolutionary tracks, although that might be due to the mis-match in metallicities between the solar Geneva models and the higher-than-solar metallicity of M31. As the luminosities increase the median spectral type also increases; i.e., the higher mass RSGs spend more time at cooler temperatures than do those of lower luminosities, a result which is new to this study. Finally we discuss what would be needed observationally to successfully build a luminosity function that could be used to constrain the mass-loss rates of RSGs as our Geneva colleagues have suggested.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/813/26
- Title:
- Runaway M dwarf candidates from SDSS-DR7
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/813/26
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present a sample of 20 runaway M dwarf candidates (RdMs) within 1kpc of the Sun whose Galactocentric (GC) velocities exceed 400km/s. The candidates were selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR7 M Dwarf Catalog of West et al. (2011, J/AJ/141/97). Our RdMs have SDSS+USNO-B proper motions that are consistent with those recorded in the PPMXL, LSPM, and combined Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer+SDSS+Two-micron All-sky Survey catalogs. Sixteen RdMs are classified as dwarfs, while the remaining four RdMs are subdwarfs. We model the Galactic potential using a bulge-disk-halo profile. Our fastest RdM, with a GC velocity of 658.5+/-236.9km/s, is a possible hypervelocity candidate, as it is unbound in 77% of our simulations. About half of our RdMs have kinematics that are consistent with ejection from the Galactic center. Seven of our RdMs have kinematics consistent with an ejection scenario from M31 or M32 to within 2{sigma}, although our distance-limited survey makes such a realization unlikely. No more than four of our RdMs may have originated from the Leo stream. We propose that to within measurement errors, most of our bound RdMs are likely disk runaways or halo objects, and may have been accelerated through a series of multi-body interactions within the Galactic disk or possibly supernovae explosions.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/900/14
- Title:
- ~17000 runaways stars from the Orion Nebula Cluster
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/900/14
- Date:
- 14 Mar 2022 08:53:06
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We use Gaia DR2 to hunt for runaway stars from the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). We search a region extending 45{deg} around the ONC and out to 1 kpc to find sources that have overlapped in angular position with the cluster in the last ~10Myr. We find ~17000 runaway/walkaway candidates that satisfy this 2D traceback condition. Most of these are expected to be contaminants, e.g., caused by Galactic streaming motions of stars at different distances. We thus examine six further tests to help identify real runaways, namely: (1) possessing young stellar object (YSO) colors and magnitudes based on Gaia optical photometry; (2) having IR excess consistent with YSOs based on 2MASS and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry; (3) having a high degree of optical variability; (4) having closest approach distances well-constrained to within the cluster half-mass radius; (5) having ejection directions that avoid the main Galactic streaming contamination zone; and (6) having a required radial velocity (RV) for 3D overlap of reasonable magnitude (or, for the 7% of candidates with measured RVs, satisfying 3D traceback). Thirteen sources, not previously noted as Orion members, pass all these tests, while another twelve are similarly promising, except they are in the main Galactic streaming contamination zone. Among these 25 ejection candidates, ten with measured RVs pass the most restrictive 3D traceback condition. We present full lists of runaway/walkaway candidates, estimate the high-velocity population ejected from the ONC, and discuss its implications for cluster formation theories via comparison with numerical simulations.