The aim of this work is to search for planets around intermediate-mass stars in open clusters by using data from an extensive survey with more than 15 years of observations. We obtain high-precision radial velocities (RV) with the HARPS spectrograph for a sample of 142 giant stars in 17 open clusters. We fit Keplerian orbits when a significant periodic signal is detected. We also study the variation of stellar activity indicators and line-profile variations to discard stellar-induced signals. We present the discovery of a periodic RV signal compatible with the presence of a planet candidate in the 1.15Gyr open cluster IC4651 orbiting the 2.06M_{sun}_ star No. 9122. If confirmed, the planet candidate would have a minimum mass of 7.2M_J_ and a period of 747 days. However, we also find that the FWHM of the CCF varies with a period close to the RV, casting doubts on the planetary nature of the signal. We also provide refined parameters for the previously discovered planet around NGC2423 No. 3 but show evidence that the BIS of the CCF is correlated with the RV during some of the observing periods. This fact advises us that this might not be a real planet and that the RV variations could be caused by stellar activity and/or pulsations. Finally, we show that the previously reported signal by a brown dwarf around NGC4349 No. 127 is presumably produced by stellar activity modulation. The long-term monitoring of several red giants in open clusters has allowed us to find periodic RV variations in several stars. However, we also show that the follow-up of this kind of stars should last more than one orbital period to detect long-term signals of stellar origin. This work warns that although it is possible to detect planets around red giants, large-amplitude, long-period RV modulations do exist in such stars that can mimic the presence of an orbiting planetary body. Therefore, we need to better understand how such RV modulations behave as stars evolve along the Red Giant Branch and perform a detailed study of all the possible stellar-induced signals (e.g. spots, pulsations, granulation) to comprehend the origin of RV variations.
The Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) is a large public spectroscopic survey at the European Southern Observatory Very LargeTelescope. A key aim is to provide precise radial velocities (RVs) and projected equatorial velocities (vsini) for representative samples of Galactic stars, which will complement information obtained by the Gaia astrometry satellite. We present an analysis to empirically quantify the size and distribution of uncertainties in RV and vsini using spectra from repeated exposures of the same stars. We show that the uncertainties vary as simple scaling functions of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and vsini, that the uncertainties become larger with increasing photospheric temperature, but that the dependence on stellar gravity, metallicity and age is weak. The underlying uncertainty distributions have extended tails that are better represented by Students t-distributions than by normal distributions. Parametrised results are provided, which enable estimates of the RV precision for almost all GES measurements, and estimates of the vsini precision for stars in young clusters, as a function of S/N, vsini and stellar temperature. The precision of individual high S/N GES RV measurements is 0.22-0.26km/s, dependent on instrumental configuration.
Angular momentum (J) loss requires magnetic interaction between the forming star and both the circumstellar disk and the magnetically driven outflows. In order to test these predictions many authors have investigated a rotation-disk connection in pre-main sequence objects with masses larger than about 0.4M_{sun}_. For brown dwarfs (BDs) this connection was not investigated as yet because there are very few samples available. We aim to extend this investigation well down into the substellar regime for our large sample of ~~80 BDs in the Orion Nebula Cluster, for which we have recently measured rotational periods.
A proper motion membership list is presented for the lower mass stars in the Pleiades open cluster based on a survey of about a 5x5{deg} area around the cluster center. Finder charts prepared from an R passband Schmidt plate are given. Photographic R and I photometry is given for all stars; where possible a V magnitude is also listed. The photometry is accurate to about 0.1mag.
We present the results of a deep proper motion survey of a 19 square degree area of the Galactic open cluster Praesepe. Details of the astrometric and photometric reductions are given, along with the selection process for members. A list of these probable members, along with cross identifications from previous less sensitive surveys, is presented and finder charts given in an Appendix.
Determination of the mass functions of open clusters of different ages allows us to infer the efficiency with which brown dwarfs are evaporated from clusters to populate the field. In this paper we present the results of a photometric survey to identify low mass and brown dwarf members of the old open cluster Praesepe (age 590^+150^_-120_Myr, distance 190^+6.0^_-5.8_pc) from which we estimate its mass function and compare this with that of other clusters. We performed an optical (Ic-band) and near-infrared (J and Ks-band) photometric survey of Praesepe covering 3.1{deg}^2^. With 5sigma detection limits of Ic=23.4 and J=20.0, our survey is predicted to be sensitive to objects with masses from 0.6 to 0.05M_{sun}.
Charge-coupled device (CCD) photometry in the Johnson V, Kron-Cousins I and Washington CMT1 systems is presented in the field of the poorly known open cluster NGC 2627.
We have obtained CCD photometry in the Johnson V, Kron-Cousins I and CT_1_ Washington systems for NGC 2324, a rich open cluster located ~35{deg} from the Galactic anticentre direction. We measured V magnitudes and V-I colours for 2865 stars and T_1_ magnitudes and C-T_1_ colours for 1815 stars in an area of 13.6'x13.6' (pixel=0.4")
CCD observations in the Johnson V, Kron-Cousins I and the Washington system C and T_1_ passbands have been used to generate colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) reaching down to V~21.0mag and T_1_~19.0 for Trumpler 5, an old open cluster located towards the Galactic anticentre. Our data analysis confirms the existence of non-uniform extinction over the face of the cluster, the mean E(V-I) and E(C-T_1_) values being 0.80+/-0.05 and 1.17+/-0.15, respectively. Through comparison of the cluster CMDs with theoretical isochrones of the Geneva group, Washington Standard Giant Branches and measures of V and T_1_ indices, we derive the following values for the cluster apparent distance modulus, age, and metallicity: V-M_V_=13.80+/-0.30 (corresponding to a distance from the Sun of 2.4+/-0.5 kpc and 0.04kpc above the Galactic plane), t=5.0+/-0.5Gyr and [Fe/H]=-0.30+/-0.15. We estimate the cluster angular radius to be about 7.7 arcmin (=5.4pc) from star counts carried out within and outside the cluster field.
We wish to determine accurate ages for open clusters and use this, in conjunction with colour-magnitude diagrams, to constrain models of stellar structure and evolution. The detached eclipsing binary V20 in the old, metal-rich ([Fe/H]=+0.40) open cluster NGC6791 is studied in order to determine highly accurate masses and radii of its components. This allows the cluster age to be established with high precision, using isochrones in the mass-radius diagram. Methods. We employ high-resolution UVES spectroscopy of V20 to determine the spectroscopic orbit and time-series V, Ic photometry to obtain the photometric elements.