We present CCD observations in the B, V, and I passbands obtained for stars in the fields of the open clusters Pismis 22, NGC 6178, NGC 6216, and Ruprecht 130, projected not far from the Galactic centre (|l|<30{deg}, |b|<2{deg}). The sample consists of about 790 stars reaching down to V~18-19mag. From the analysis of the colour magnitude diagrams, we confirmed the physical reality of the clusters and derived their reddening, distance and age. In addition, we obtained flux-calibrated integrated spectra in the range 3500-9200{AA} for the cluster sample. The equivalent widths of the Balmer lines provided us with age estimates, while the comparison with template spectra allowed us to derive both foreground reddening and age. The photometric and spectroscopic results reveal that the four studied objects are young open clusters with ages ranging between 35 and 50Myr. The clusters, located between 1.0kpc and 4.3kpc from the Sun, are affected by different amounts of interstellar visual absorption (0.6=~A_v_=~6.0).
We have selected pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in 12 groups of notional ages ranging from 1 to 35Myr, using heterogeneous membership criteria. Using these members we have constructed empirical isochrones in V, V-I colour-magnitude diagrams. This allows us to identify clearly the gap between the radiative main sequence and the convective PMS (the RC gap). We follow the evolution of this gap with age and show that it can be a useful age indicator for groups less than =15 Myr old. We also observe a reduction in absolute spreads about the sequences with age. Finally, the empirical isochrones allow us to place the groups in order of age, independently of theory. The youngest groups can be collated into three sets of similar ages. The youngest set is the ONC, NGC 6530 and IC 5146 (nominally 1Myr); next Cep OB3b, NGC 2362, Ori and NGC 2264 (nominally 3Myr); and finally Ori and IC 348 (nominally 45Myr). This suggests Cep OB3b is younger than previously thought, and IC 348 older. For IC 348 the stellar rotation rate distribution and fraction of stars with discs imply a younger age than we derive. We suggest this is because of the absence of O-stars in this cluster, whose winds and/or ionizing radiation may be an important factor in the removal of discs in other clusters.
We present B-, V-, and I-band CCD photometry of the W UMa-type binary system TX Cnc, which is a member star of the Praesepe open cluster. Based on the observations, new ephemeris and a revised photometric solution of the binary system were derived.
We examine the radius-luminosity (R-L) relation for blue galaxies in the Team Keck Redshift Survey (TKRS) of GOODS-N. We compare with a volume-limited, Sloan Digital Sky Survey sample and find that the R-L relation has evolved to lower surface brightness since z=1. Based on the detection limits of GOODS, this cannot be explained by incompleteness in low surface brightness galaxies. Number density arguments rule out a pure radius evolution. It can be explained by a radius-dependent decline in B-band luminosity with time.
Andrews-Lindsay 1 is a pertinent open cluster because it may host the planetary nebula (PN) PHR 1315-6555, yet ambiguities linger concerning its fundamental parameters (>50% scatter). New multiband BVJHW_1-4_ photometry for cluster and field stars, in concert with observations of recently discovered classical Cepheids, were used to constrain the reddening and velocity-distance profiles along the sightline. That analysis yielded the following parameters for the cluster: E(J-H)=0.24+/-0.03, d=10.0+/-0.4kpc (d_JH_=9.9+/-0.6kpc, d_BV_=10.1+/-0.5kpc), and log{tau}=8.90+/-0.15. The steep velocity-distance gradient along l~305{deg} indicates that two remote objects sharing spatial and kinematic parameters (i.e., PHR 1315-6555 and Andrews-Lindsay 1) are associated, thus confirming claims that the PN is a cluster member. The new distance for PHR 1315-6555 is among the most precise established yet for a Galactic PN ({sigma}/d=4%).
Low-luminosity radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) are of importance in studies concerning feedback from radio AGN since a dominant fraction of AGN belong to this class. We report high-resolution Very Large Array (VLA) and European VLBI Network (EVN) observations of HI 21cm absorption from a young, compact steep-spectrum radio source, B2 0258+35, nested in the early-type galaxy NGC 1167, which contains a 160kpc HI disc. Our VLA and EVN HI absorption observations, modelling, and comparison with molecular gas data suggest that the cold gas in the centre of NGC 1167 is very turbulent (with a velocity dispersion of ~90km/s) and that this turbulence is induced by the interaction of the jets with the interstellar medium (ISM). Furthermore, the ionised gas in the galaxy shows evidence of shock heating at a few kpc from the radio source. These findings support the results from numerical simulations of radio jets expanding into a clumpy gas disc, which predict that the radio jets in this case percolate through the gas disc and drive shocks into the ISM at distances much larger than their physical extent. These results expand the number of low-luminosity radio sources found to impact the surrounding medium, thereby highlighting the possible relevance of these AGN for feedback.
We present the results of VLBA observations at 6 and 3.6cm for eighteen Compact Steep Spectrum radio sources (CSS) from the B3-VLA CSS sample. In most cases these VLBA images display a "Double/Triple" morphology, and the core is unambiguously detected in seven sources. Multifrequency images allow us to study the spectral properties of the individual source components and to constrain the spectral age. In lobe-dominated sources the radiative ages deduced from the synchrotron theory are in the range of up 5x10^3^ years, if equipartition magnetic field is assumed. Polarized emission is detected at a few percent level for two sources only. They were the only two sources displaying polarized emission in VLA A configuration data, and this implies that beam depolarization is not effective in reducing the integrated fractional polarization for these sources.
Polarisation parameters are presented for 192 radiosources of the B3-VLA sample at 1.4, 2.7, 4.8, 10.5GHz. The polarisation has been measured with Effelsberg radiotelescope for 2.7, 4.8, 10.5GHz, while the 1.4 polarization is from NVSS (Cat. <VIII/65>) survey. Rotation Measures (RM) are presented for 143 radiosources.
Table 2 presents flux densities at 151, 327 and 408MHz and 1.4, 4.8 and 10.6GHz of B3-VLA sample and an updated list of the Optical Identifications of the sample.
