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2721. HST observations of old clusters in the LMC
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/527/199
Title:
HST observations of old clusters in the LMC
Short Name:
J/ApJ/527/199
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We present V, V-I color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for three old star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC): NGC 1466, NGC 2257, and Hodge 11. Our data extend {~}3 mag below the main-sequence turnoff, allowing us to determine accurate relative ages and the blue straggler frequencies. Based on a differential comparison of the CMDs, any age difference between the three LMC clusters is less than 1.5 Gyr. Comparing their CMDs to those of M92 and M3, the LMC clusters, unless their published metallicities are significantly in error, are the same age as the old Galactic globulars. The similar ages to Galactic globulars are shown to be consistent with hierarchical clustering models of galaxy formation. The blue straggler frequencies are also similar to those of Galactic globular clusters. We derive a true distance modulus to the LMC of (m - M)_0_ = 18.46 {+/-} 0.09 [assuming (m - M)_0_ = 14.61 for M92] using these three LMC clusters.
2722. HST observations of 7 Pop.II variable stars
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/142/187
Title:
HST observations of 7 Pop.II variable stars
Short Name:
J/AJ/142/187
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We present new absolute trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for seven Population II variable stars - five RR Lyr variables: RZ Cep, XZ Cyg, SU Dra, RR Lyr, and UV Oct; and two type 2 Cepheids: VY Pyx and {kappa} Pav. We obtained these results with astrometric data from Fine Guidance Sensors, white-light interferometers on Hubble Space Telescope. We find absolute parallaxes in milliseconds of arc: RZ Cep, 2.12+/-0.16mas; XZ Cyg, 1.67+/-0.17mas; SU Dra, 1.42+/-0.16mas; RR Lyr, 3.77+/-0.13mas; UV Oct, 1.71+/-0.10mas; VY Pyx, 6.44+/-0.23mas; and {kappa} Pav, 5.57+/-0.28mas; an average {sigma}_{pi}_/{pi}=5.4%. With these parallaxes, we compute absolute magnitudes in V and K bandpasses corrected for interstellar extinction and Lutz-Kelker-Hanson bias. Using these RR Lyrae variable star absolute magnitudes, we then derive zero points for M_V_-[Fe/H] and M_K_-[Fe/H]-logP relations. The technique of reduced parallaxes corroborates these results. We employ our new results to determine distances and ages of several Galactic globular clusters and the distance of the Large Magellanic Cloud. The latter is close to that previously derived from Classical Cepheids uncorrected for any metallicity effect, indicating that any such effect is small. We also discuss the somewhat puzzling results obtained for our two type 2 Cepheids.
2723. HST Observations of SMC N88A
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/347/841
Title:
HST Observations of SMC N88A
Short Name:
J/A+A/347/841
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed us for the first time to resolve the compact SMC ionized ``blob'' N88A (diameter ~3.5arcsec or 1pc). This very young HII, region, which is hatching from its natal molecular cloud, is heavily affected by absorbing dust associated with the cloud. The interstellar reddening towards N88A is on average A_v_~1.5mag and strikingly rises to more than 3.5mag in a narrow dust band crossing the core of the HII region. Such a high extinction is unprecedented for an HII region in the metal-poor SMC. We present the photometry of some 70 stars lying towards the OB association at the center of which lies N88A. The exciting star(s) of N88A is not detected, due to the heavy extinction. The chronology of star formation is discussed for the whole region.
2724. HST observations of star clusters in NGC 3256
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/826/32
Title:
HST observations of star clusters in NGC 3256
Short Name:
J/ApJ/826/32
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We use the Advanced Camera for Surveys on the Hubble Space Telescope to study the rich population of young massive star clusters in the main body of NGC 3256, a merging pair of galaxies with a high star formation rate (SFR) and SFR per unit area ({Sigma}_SFR_). These clusters have luminosity and mass functions that follow power laws, dN/dL{propto}L^{alpha}^ with {alpha}=-2.23+/-0.07, and dN/dM{propto}M^{beta}^ with {beta}=-1.86+/-0.34 for {tau}<10Myr clusters, similar to those found in more quiescent galaxies. The age distribution can be described by dN/d{tau}{propto}{tau}^{gamma}^, with {gamma}~-0.67+/-0.08 for clusters younger than about a few hundred million years, with no obvious dependence on cluster mass. This is consistent with a picture where ~80% of the clusters are disrupted each decade in time. We investigate the claim that galaxies with high {Sigma}_SFR_ form clusters more efficiently than quiescent systems by determining the fraction of stars in bound clusters ({Gamma}) and the CMF/SFR statistic (CMF is the cluster mass function) for NGC 3256 and comparing the results with those for other galaxies. We find that the CMF/SFR statistic for NGC 3256 agrees well with that found for galaxies with {Sigma}_SFR_ and SFRs that are lower by 1-3 orders of magnitude, but that estimates for {Gamma} are only robust when the same sets of assumptions are applied. Currently, {Gamma} values available in the literature have used different sets of assumptions, making it more difficult to compare the results between galaxies.
2725. HST obs. in the region of 3 young LMC SNIa remnants
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/886/99
Title:
HST obs. in the region of 3 young LMC SNIa remnants
Short Name:
J/ApJ/886/99
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We have used two methods to search for surviving companions of Type Ia supernova progenitors in three Balmer-dominated supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud: 0519-69.0, 0505-67.9 (DEM L71), and 0548-70.4. In the first method, we use the Hubble Space Telescope photometric measurements of stars to construct color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and compare positions of stars in the CMDs with those expected from theoretical post-impact evolution of surviving main-sequence or helium star companions. No obvious candidates of surviving companions are identified in this photometric search. Future models for surviving red giant companions or with different explosion mechanisms are needed for thorough comparisons with these observations in order to make more definitive conclusions. In the second method, we use Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer observations of 0519-69.0 and DEM L71 to carry out spectroscopic analyses of stars in order to use large peculiar radial velocities as diagnostics of surviving companions. We find a star in 0519-69.0 and a star in DEM L71 moving at radial velocities of 182+/-0km/s and 213+/-0km/s, respectively, more than 2.5{sigma} from the mean radial velocity of the underlying stellar population, 264 and 270km/s, respectively. These stars need higher-quality spectra to investigate their abundances and rotation velocities to determine whether they are indeed surviving companions of the supernova progenitors.
2726. HST obs. of Mira candidates in NGC 4258
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/857/67
Title:
HST obs. of Mira candidates in NGC 4258
Short Name:
J/ApJ/857/67
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We present year-long, near-infrared (NIR) Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3 observations of Mira variables in the water megamaser host galaxy NGC 4258. Miras are asymptotic giant branch variables that can be divided into oxygen- (O-) and carbon- (C-) rich subclasses. Oxygen-rich Miras follow a tight (scatter ~0.14mag) period-luminosity relation (PLR) in the NIR and can be used to measure extragalactic distances. The water megamaser in NGC 4258 gives a geometric distance to the galaxy accurate to 2.6% that can serve to calibrate the Mira PLR. We develop criteria for detecting and classifying O-rich Miras with optical and NIR data as well as NIR data alone. In total, we discover 438 Mira candidates that we classify with high confidence as O-rich. Our most stringent criteria produce a sample of 139 Mira candidates that we use to measure a PLR. We use the OGLE-III sample of O-rich Miras in the Large Magellanic Cloud to obtain a relative distance modulus, {mu}_4258_-{mu}_LMC_=10.95+/-0.01 (statistical) +/-0.06 (systematic) mag, that is statistically consistent with the relative distance determined using Cepheids. These results demonstrate the feasibility of discovering and characterizing Miras using the NIR with the HST and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope and using those Miras to measure extragalactic distances and determine the Hubble constant.
2727. HST obs. of Mira variables in the SNIa host NGC1559
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/889/5
Title:
HST obs. of Mira variables in the SNIa host NGC1559
Short Name:
J/ApJ/889/5
Date:
17 Jan 2022 11:46:55
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We present year-long, near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3 observations used to search for Mira variables in NGC 1559, the host galaxy of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) SN 2005df. This is the first dedicated search for Miras, highly evolved low-mass stars, in an SNIa host, and subsequently the first calibration of the SN Ia luminosity using Miras in a role historically played by Cepheids. We identify a sample of 115 O-rich Miras with P<400days based on their light-curve properties. We find that the scatter in the Mira period-luminosity relation (PLR) is comparable to Cepheid PLRs seen in SN Ia host galaxies. Using a sample of O-rich Miras discovered in NGC 4258 with HSTF160W and its maser distance, we measure a distance modulus for NGC1559 of {mu}_1559_=31.41+/-0.050(statistical)+/-0.060(systematic)mag. Based on the light curve of the normal, well-observed, low-reddening SN 2005df, we obtain a measurement of the fiducial SN Ia absolute magnitude of M_B_^0^=-19.27+/-0.13mag. With the Hubble diagram of SNe Ia we find H_0_=72.7+/-4.6km/s/Mpc. Combining the calibration from the NGC 4258 megamaser and the Large Magellanic Cloud detached eclipsing binaries gives a best value of H_0_=73.3+/-4.0km/s/Mpc. This result is within 1{sigma} of the Hubble constant derived using Cepheids and multiple calibrating SNe Ia. This is the first of four expected calibrations of the SN Ia luminosity from Miras that should reduce the error in H_0_ via Miras to ~3%. In light of the present Hubble tension and JWST, Miras have utility in the extragalactic distance scale to check Cepheid distances or calibrate nearby SNe in early-type host galaxies that would be unlikely targets for Cepheid searches.
2728. HST obs. of NGC 2298, 5897, 6535, and 6626
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/121/916
Title:
HST obs. of NGC 2298, 5897, 6535, and 6626
Short Name:
J/AJ/121/916
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
HST observations of the core of four galactic globular clusters allowed us to obtain interesting clues about the influence of the environment on the star distribution along the horizontal branch. The chemical composition and the age of the target clusters have been derived through a detailed analysis of the (V, V-I) color-magnitude diagrams. The photometric metallicities have been found in close agreement with the recent spectroscopic determinations.
2729. HST opt. & H-band obs. of Cepheids in NGC4151
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/902/26
Title:
HST opt. & H-band obs. of Cepheids in NGC4151
Short Name:
J/ApJ/902/26
Date:
14 Mar 2022 07:44:50
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We derive a distance of 15.8+/-0.4Mpc to the archetypal Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4151 based on the near-infrared Cepheid period-luminosity relation and new Hubble Space Telescope multiband imaging. This distance determination, based on measurements of 35 long-period (P>25d) Cepheids, will support the absolute calibration of the supermassive black hole mass in this system, as well as studies of the dynamics of the feedback or feeding of its active galactic nucleus.
2730. HST paired and isolated galaxies
ID:
ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/130/2043
Title:
HST paired and isolated galaxies
Short Name:
J/AJ/130/2043
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We compare the structural properties of two classes of galaxies at intermediate redshift: those in dynamically close galaxy pairs, and those that are isolated. Both samples are selected from the Canadian Network for Observational Cosmology field galaxy redshift survey (CNOC2, Cat. <J/ApJS/129/475>) and have redshifts in the range 0.1<z<0.6. Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images were acquired as part of a snapshot survey and were used to measure bulge fraction and asymmetry for these galaxies.