We present CCD photometry in the B and V passbands for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6584. The color-magnitude diagram reveals a horizontal branch (HB) populated on both the red and blue sides of the RR Lyrae instability strip. The cluster contains 42 confirmed RR Lyrae variables, and we find an additional 56 stars which are possible RR Lyraes. The mean magnitude of the RR Lyraes on our CCD frames is combined with that of the nonvariable stars to yield <V(HB)> = 16.53 +/- 0.03. Using a polynomial fit to the cluster giant stars, we derive the color of the giant branch at the level of the HB to be (B-V)g = 0.89 +/- 0.02. Our photometry has also been used to isolate the red giant branch "clump," which forms when stars pause and sometimes reverse their course as they evolve up the giant branch. Its luminosity is primarily dependent upon the cluster metallicity, and we have used this fact to derive a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -1.44 +/- 0.16 for NGC 6584. Coupled with the color of the giant branch given above, this yields a cluster reddening of E(B-V) = 0.07 +/- 0.04. To the extent that our photometry can be used to study the age of NGC 6584, we find it to be comparable to M3, which is not surprising given their similar HB morphologies. The color-magnitude diagram also exhibits a significant population of blue straggler stars. From a comparison of the blue straggler radial distribution to that of the subgiant stars with similar V magnitudes, we find that the blue stragglers are more centrally concentrated than the subgiants, indicative of a higher mass for the blue stragglers.
We report CCD B and V photometry for the central region of the old open cluster NGC 7762. The cluster appears very loose and occupies a large sky area. The Colour Magnitude Diagram (CMD) shows a distinct Main Sequence (MS) down to V=~16.5, and a couple of evolved stars. The bottom of the sequence is characterized by a large spread, much greater than the expected broadness due to photometric errors, and probably related to low mass stars evaporation. The analysis here carried out allows us to conclude that NGC 7762 in an intermediate age cluster about 1.8Gyr old. The comparison with theoretical isochrones from the Padova group constrains colour excess and apparent distance modulus in the range 0.85-0.90 and 12.00-12.20, respectively. The distance to the Sun comes out to be 800 pc, somewhat lower than Chincarini's (1966MmSAI..37..423C) estimate.
Open clusters are often used as tracers for the formation and evolution of the Milky Way. But they can also be used to study distinct "local stellar populations" and all kind of stellar groups. All these studies crucially depend on their unambiguous detection and classification separating them from the fore- and background field population. Still more than one third of the catalogued galactic open clusters are unstudied to date. We have chosen three northern open cluster fields, namely NGC 3231, NGC 7055, and NGC 7127 which have been never studied before to shed more light on their true nature. We present Johnson-Cousins BVRI photometry down to V=19mag. After the transformation to the standard systems, colour-magnitude diagrams were generated. These diagrams were used to fit solar abundant isochrones to determine the distance modulus, reddening and apparent age of the main sequences. From the analysis of the colour-magnitude diagrams and the available proper motions we conclude that NGC 7055 and NGC 7127 are young, real, open clusters. NGC 3231, on the other hand, is probably a high galactic latitude open cluster remnant.
We present CCD photometry of two southern open clusters. As part of the Bologna Open Cluster Chemical Evolution project we obtained BVI and UBVI imaging for NGC 2849 and NGC 6134, respectively. By means of the synthetic colour-magnitude diagram method and using various evolutionary sets of stellar evolution tracks with various metallicities, we determined at the same time age, distance and reddening. We also determined an approximate metallicity for NGC 2849, for which the information is not available from sounder methods like high-resolution spectroscopy. NGC 2849 turned to be 0.85-1.0Gyr old with a solar metallicity. The foreground reddening is E(B-V)=0.28-0.32, and the true distance modulus (m-M)_0_=13.8-13.9. For NGC 6134 we did not obtain fully consistent answers from the V, B-V and V, V-I photometry, an unexpected problem, since both the metallicity and the reddening are known (from high-resolution spectroscopy and the U-B, B-V two colours diagram, respectively). This may either indicate a difficulty of current models (evolutionary tracks and/or models of atmosphere) to accurately reproduce colours, or be related to differences in the metal mixture assumed by the models and those of the clusters. Assuming the spectroscopic abundance and the colour excess [E(B-V)=0.35] from the U-B, B-V plot, we derived a best age between 0.82 and 0.95Gyr and a distance modulus 10.5.
We present V, I photometry of the bulge globular clusters NGC 6380 and Terzan 12, using the ESO NTT telescope. For the first time colour-magnitude diagrams are obtained for these clusters, allowing us to derive reliable cluster parameters. From the colour-magnitude diagram morphology both clusters result to be metal-rich. For NGC 6380 we estimate [Fe/H]~-0.5, a reddening of E(B-V)=1.07 and a distance of d~9.8 kpc. For Terzan 12 we obtain [Fe/H]~-0.5, E(B-V)=2.06 and d~3.4kpc.
The age of the LMC red globular cluster NGC 2213 has been estimated as 1.3+/-0.5x10^9^yr from a color-magnitude diagram, derived from CCD photometry, that reveals the cluster main sequence. The accuracy of the age estimate, however, is limited by uncertainly in the LMC distance modulus, by uncertainty in the cluster metal abundance which appears to lie in the range one-half to one-sixth solar, by uncertainty in the reddening of the cluster, and by uncertainty in the extent to which the theoretical isochrones used for the age dating are affected by the neglect, in standard stellar models, of the interior mixing caused by convective overshoot in the stellar cores. Using the adopted reddening of E(B-V)=0.09 and assuming Y=0.2, isochrone best fits to the cluster main sequence are found for [M/H]=-0.3 if (m-M)0=18.7 and for [M/H]=-0.7 if (m-M)0=18.2. After allowance for the possible effects of convective overshoot, the corresponding ages are 0.9^+0.5^_-0.3_ and 1.6^+0.8_^-0.4_x10^9^yr. Plausible alterations in the adopted reddening value and the adopted helium abundance also yield ages within these limits.
The age of the SMC globular cluster NGC 121 is found from main-sequence isochrone fitting to be 12+/-2x10^9^yr if a distance modulus that assumes Mv=+0.6 for the field RR Lyrae variables near the cluster is used. If instead (m-M)o = 19.3, then the cluster age is 9+/-2x10^9^yr. The cluster is known to contain both RR Lyrae variables and a marginal carbon star; comparison with theoretical models indicates no significant inconsistencies in this joint occurrence at either modulus. The color-magnitude diagram for the nearby field also shows a faint, blue main-sequence turnoff and, in contrast to previous Magellanic Cloud field studies, the field lacks any evidence for the existence of a significant intermediate-age component. A new look at the chemical evolution of the Small Magellanic Cloud suggests that, unlike the Galaxy, where the rate of enrichment has been steady after the initial phase, the enrichment in the SMC remained small for a long interval before increasing rapidly sometime in the last 1-2x10^9^yr.
The first CCD color-magnitude diagram (CMD) in B and V is presented for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6535. From this CMD, which extends below the main-sequence turnoff, we draw the following conclusions: (1) The horizontal branch (HB) is predominantly blue in nature with no RR Lyrae variables known to be cluster members. Nonetheless, based on a comparison with clusters which have blue HBs and RR Lyraes (M15 and M79), we infer a mean HB magnitude of <V(RR)>=15.73+/-0.11 for NGC 6535. (2) Again, via a direct comparison with the blue HBs of M15 and M79, we derive a cluster reddening of E(B-V)=0.44+/-0.02. (3) When combined with the apparent color of the red-giant branch at the level of the HB, (B-V)g=1.18+/-0.02, the derived reddening yields a metal abundance of [Fe/H]=-1.85+/-0.10, similar to that of NGC 6397. (4) Application of the Delta(V(TO-HB)) and Delta((B-V)(SGB-TO)) cluster dating techniques reveals no perceptible age difference between NGC 6535 and NGC 6397. (5) A significant population of nine blue-straggler candidates is detected in NGC 6535. However, this is too few to facilitate a meaningful analysis of their radial distribution.
We present CCD photometry in the BVI-filter passbands for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6144. This cluster is located in the direction of the {rho} Ophiuchi dust cloud, approximately 30 northwest of the bright star {alpha} Scorpii (Antares). Our color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of NGC 6144 extend from above the tip of the first-ascent red giant branch (RGB) to ~3mag below the horizontal branch (HB). The morphology of the HB is predominantly blueward of the RR Lyrae instability strip, while the RGB is relatively steep, signifying a low-to-intermediate metal abundance. Our CMD also reveals the presence of three candidate post-asymptotic giant branch stars. We find VHB=16.30+/-0.07; coupling the measured RGB color at the level of the HB with a polynomial describing the shape of the RGB, we have utilized the simultaneous reddening and metallicity method of Sarajedini to estimate a metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.81+/-0.12 (on the Zinn & West, 1984ApJS...55...45Z, scale) and a mean reddening of E(B-V)=0.41+/-0.02. In addition to this mean level, our observations reveal that the reddening has a spatially variable component generally increasing from north to south consistent with the expected density variations in the {rho} Ophiuchi dust cloud.
BVRI/CCD photometry of ~2,300 stars in the central 2.2'x3.5' area of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC205 in the Local Group is presented. The color-magnitude diagrams of NGC 205 show: (1) a blue plume around (B-V)~0.0mag, extending up to V~19.3mag (M_V_~-5.4mag); and (2) a strong asymptotic giant branch (AGB) population, the brightest of which reaches I~19.0mag, 1.5 mag brighter than the tip of the red giant branch. BVRI photometry of three globular clusters (Hubble IV. V, and VI) is also presented. Hubble V is much bluer [(B-V)=0.37] than other globular clusters. This blue color of Hubble V leads to an estimate of the age, ~300Myrs. A V luminosity function for the blue stars has been derived: the logarithmic slope of the luminosity function for -5.7<M_V_<-3.2 is 0.64+/-0.12, which is similar to those of other nearby galaxies. The AGB stars extend to Mbol~-5.7mag, which is ~0.7mag brighter than those in NGC 185. The bolometric luminosity function of the AGB stars in NGC 205 is found to be flatter than that of the similar dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 185, but similar to that of a bulge field 4' of the nucleus of M31. Surface photometry for the central area within R=50" is presented, showing that the colors get bluer as the galactocentric radius decreases except for the nucleus region within R=1.6" where the colors get redder inward. Star formation history in NGC 205 is briefly discussed.
