We present wide field photometry of the Galactic Globular Cluster M 22 in the B, V and I passbands for more than 186,000 stars. The study is complemented by the photometry in two narrowband filters centered on H{alpha} and the adjacent continuum, and by infrared J, H and K magnitudes derived from the 2 MASS survey for ~2000 stars. Profiting from this huge database, we completely characterized the evolved stellar sequences of the cluster by determining a variety of photometric parameters, including new photometric estimates of the mean metallicity, reddening and distance to the cluster. In particular, from our multi-wavelength analysis, we re-examined the long-standing metallicity spread problem in M 22. According to our dataset, we conclude that most of the observed width of the red giant branch must be due to differential reddening, which amounts to a maximum of {Delta}E(B-V)~0.06, although the presence of a small metallicity spread cannot be completely ruled out. More specifically, the maximum metallicity spread allowed by our data is of the order of {Delta}[Fe/H]~0.1-0.2dex, i.e., not much more than what allowed by the photometric errors. Finally, we identified most of the known variable stars and peculiar objects in our field of view. In particular, we find additional evidence supporting previous optical identifications of the central star of the Planetary Nebula IRAS 18333-2357, which is associated with M 22.
We have tabulated lists of upper red giant, horizontal-, and asymptotic giant branch (RGB, HB, and AGB) stars in the globular cluster M5 that are complete to over 10' from the core for the RGB and AGB samples, and 8' for the HB sample. The large samples give us the most precise value of R_2_=N_AGB_/N_HB_ to date for a single globular cluster (0.176+/-0.018).
We present the results of a survey for star clusters in M33 using HST WFPC2 archive images. We have found 104 star clusters, including 32 new ones, in the images of 24 fields that were not included in previous studies. Combining these with previous data in the literature, we increase the number of M33 star clusters found in the HST images to 242. We have derived BVI integrated photometry of these star clusters from the CCD images taken with the CFH12k mosaic camera at the CFHT.
We present new BVI photometry containing 40,000 stars of the Galactic globular cluster M15 (NGC 7078), covering a 25'x25' area centered on the cluster with a magnitude range from the tip of the red giant branch to 3 mag below the main sequence turnoff. Using {alpha}-enhanced Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Program models, we find an age of 13.0+/-1.0Gyr and distance modulus of (m-M)_V_=15.4+/-0.1 through isochrone fitting. Unlike previous works, we find good agreement between the observed completeness-corrected stellar luminosity function and models.
Integrated CCD-photometry of the dwarf nearby galaxies in B, V and I (Cousins) bands is presented. The photometry was performed in increasing circular apertures.
We have developed the techniques required to use Naylor's optimal photometry algorithm of to create colour-magnitude diagrams with well-defined completeness functions. To achieve this we first demonstrate that the optimal extraction is insensitive to uncertainties in the measured position of the star. We then show how to correct the optimally extracted fluxes such that they correspond to those measured in a large aperture, so aperture photometry of standard stars can be used to place the measurements on a standard system. The technique simultaneously removes the effects of a position-dependent point spread function. Finally, we develop a method called 'ghosting', which calculates the completeness corrections in the absence of an accurate description of the point spread function. We apply these techniques to the young cluster NGC 2547 (=C0809-491), and use an X-ray-selected sample to find an age of 20-35Myr and an intrinsic distance modulus of 8.00-8.15mag. We use these isochrones to select members from our photometric surveys. Our derived luminosity function shows a well-defined Wielen dip, making NGC 2547 the youngest cluster in which such a feature has been observed. Our derived mass function spans the range 0.1-6M_{sun}_ and is similar to that for the field and the older, more massive clusters M35 and the Pleiades, supporting the idea of a universal initial mass function.
We present CCD BVI photometry for the southern open cluster NGC 2489 and its surrounding field. The sample consists of 2182 stars measured in an area of 13.6'x13.6', extending down to V~21.5. These data are supplemented with CORAVEL radial-velocity observations for seven red giant candidates. A cluster angular radius of 6.7+/-0.6', equivalent to 3.5+/-0.3pc, is estimated from star counts carried out inside and outside the cluster region. The comparison of the cluster colour-magnitude diagrams with isochrones of the Padova group yields E(B-V)=0.30+/-0.05, E(V-I)=0.40+/-0.05 and V-MV=12.20+/-0.25 for logt=8.70 (t=500^+130^_-100_Myr) and Z=0.019. NGC 2489 is then located at 1.8+/-0.3kpc from the Sun and 25pc below the Galactic plane. The analysis of the kinematical data allowed us to confirm cluster membership for six red giants, one of them being a spectroscopic binary. A mean radial velocity of 38.13+/-0.33km/s was derived for the cluster red giants. The properties of a sample of open clusters aligned along the line of sight of NGC 2489 are examined.
In this paper we present charge-coupled device (CCD) images in the Johnson B and V and Kron-Cousins I passbands for the previously unstudied open cluster NGC 5288. The sample consists of 15688 stars reaching down to V~20.5. The cluster appears to have a relatively small but conspicuous nucleus and a low-density extended coronal region.
We present initial results from a time series BVI survey of two fields in NGC 4258 using the HST ACS. This galaxy was selected because of its accurate maser-based distance, which is anticipated to have a total uncertainty of 3%. The goal of the HST observations is to provide an absolute calibration of the Cepheid distance scale and to measure its dependence on chemical abundance (the so-called metallicity effect). We carried out observations of two fields at different galactocentric distances with a mean abundance difference of 0.5dex. We discovered a total of 281 Cepheids with periods ranging from 4 to 45 days (the duration of our observing window).
We present an analysis of the globular cluster (GC) population of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4261 based on Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 data in the B, V and I bands. We study the spatial distribution of the GCs in order to probe the anisotropy in the azimuthal distribution of the discrete X-ray sources in the galaxy revealed by Chandra images.