This paper presents a detailed description of the acquisition and processing of a large body of imaging data for three fields in the globular cluster M4 taken with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. Analysis with the ALLFRAME package yielded the deepest photometry yet obtained for this cluster. The resulting data set for 4708 stars (positions and calibrated photometry in V, I, and, in two fields, U) spanning approximately six cluster core radii is presented. The scientific analysis is deferred to three companion papers, which investigate the significant white dwarf population discovered and the main-sequence population.
We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images of the inner regions of NGC 3081, an absolute magnitude M_B_=-20.0 early-type barred spiral having four well-defined resonance rings: a nuclear ring, an inner ring, an outer R_1_ ring, and an outer R'_2_ pseudoring. Here we focus on a photometric study of the inner ring, a feature likely associated with an inner 4:1 resonance near the ends of the bar. The ring is notable for its high contrast and sharp definition, which is due to a significant degree of active star formation. The ring is also notable for its significant intrinsic elongation and parallel alignment with the bar.
The projected density distribution of resolved stars near the center of M15 is shown to be consistent with either a power-law cusp N(r) ~ r^{alpha}^, with {alpha} ~ -0.85+/-0.2, or with a King model with a core of radius <~ 2" (best fit r(core)=1.3"). The inferred slope is in agreement with the theoretical value, {alpha}=-0.75, calculated by Bahcall and Wolf for the distribution of equal-mass stars surrounding a massive black hole and is also consistent with the radial profile expected from core collapse without a central black hole. The object AC 214 is a candidate for the central density cusp. Analysis of Monte Carlo simulations of the diffuse light indicates that, using current analysis techniques and available data, the residual light is not a reliable indicator of the true density distribution. This is contrary to earlier work. Photometric measurements in V and I of more than 5x10^3^ stars (and in U, V, and I of >~1500 stars) are used to construct color-magnitude diagrams in the central 1' of M15. Fourteen blue straggler candidates are identified in the inner 20". The central color gradient noticed by previous researchers is caused by a central depletion of bright red giant stars rather than an excess of blue stragglers or blue horizontal branch stars.
We present new deep imaging of the central regions of the remote globular cluster NGC 2419, obtained with the F343N and F336W filters of the Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. The new data are combined with archival imaging to constrain nitrogen and helium abundance variations within the cluster. We find a clearly bimodal distribution of the nitrogen-sensitive F336W-F343N colours of red giants, from which we estimate that about 55% of the giants belong to a population with about normal (field-like) nitrogen abundances (P1), while the remaining 45% belong to a nitrogen-rich population (P2). On average, the P2 stars are more He-rich than the P1 stars, with an estimated mean difference of {Delta}Y~=0.05, but the P2 stars exhibit a significant spread in He content and some may reach {Delta}Y~=0.13. A smaller He spread may also be present for the P1 stars. Additionally, stars with spectroscopically determined low Mg abundances ([Mg/Fe]<0) are generally associated with P2. We find the P2 stars to be slightly more centrally concentrated in NGC 2419 with a projected half-number radius of about 10% less than for the P1 stars, but the difference is not highly significant (p~=0.05). Using published radial velocities, we find evidence of rotation for the P1 stars, whereas the results are inconclusive for the P2 stars, which are consistent with no rotation as well as the same average rotation found for the P1 stars. Because of the long relaxation time scale of NGC 2419, the radial trends and kinematic properties of the populations are expected to be relatively unaffected by dynamical evolution. Hence, they provide constraints on formation scenarios for multiple populations, which must account not only for the presence of He spreads within sub-populations identified via CNO variations, but also for the relatively modest differences in the spatial distributions and kinematics of the populations.
We derive simple empirical color-redshift relations for z<~4 galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) using a linear function of three photometric colors (U-B, B-V, V-I). The dispersion between the estimated redshifts and the spectroscopically observed ones is small for relations derived in several separate color regimes; the dispersions range from {sigma}_z_~=0.03 to 0.1 for z<~2 galaxies, and from {sigma}_z_~=0.14 to 0.25 for z>~2 galaxies. We apply the color-redshift relations to the HDF photometric catalog and obtain estimated redshifts that are consistent with those derived from spectral template fitting methods. The advantage of these color-redshift relations is that they are simple and easy to use and do not depend on the assumption of any particular spectral templates; they provide model independent redshift estimates for z<~4 galaxies using only multiband photometry, and they apply to about 90% of all galaxies. We provide a color-based estimated redshift catalog of HDF galaxies to z<~4. We use the estimated redshifts to investigate the redshift distribution of galaxies in the HDF; we find peaks in the redshift distribution that suggest large-scale clustering of galaxies to at least z~1 and that are consistent with those identified in spectroscopic probes of the HDF.
We present the galaxy-galaxy angular correlations as a function of photometric redshift in a deep, wide galaxy survey centered on the Hubble Deep Field-South (HDF-S). Images were obtained with the Big Throughput Camera on the Blanco 4-m telescope at CTIO, of 1/2 square degree in broadband uBVRI, reaching ~24mag. Approximately 40,000 galaxies are detected in the survey. We determine photometric redshifts using galaxy template fitting to the photometry.
A complete photometric analysis for the eclipsing binary candidate HW Persei is presented. The UBV observations were taken at Lowell Observatory in 1996 January. Three epochs of minimum light were determined, and an improved linear ephemeris was calculated. The O-C residuals, spanning some 60 years, show no evidence of a period change. Standard magnitudes are given, and reddening estimates are made. The first published synthetic light curve solutions of HW Per reveal that it is near a state of critical contact, which we define as both components exactly filling their respective Roche lobes. The primary component is of A8 spectral type, and the secondary component is a K3-K4 spectral type. The nature of the model is discussed.
For the very short period subdwarf B eclipsing binary HW Vir, we present new CCD photometry made from 2000 through 2008. In order to obtain consistency of the binary parameters, our new light curves, showing sharp eclipses and a striking reflection effect, were analyzed simultaneously with previously published radial velocity data. The secondary star parameters of M_2_=0.14M_{sun}_, R_2_=0.18R_{sun}_, and T_2_=3084K are consistent with those of an M6-7 main-sequence star. A credibility issue regarding bolometric corrections is emphasized. More than 250 times of minimum light, including our 41 timings and spanning more than 24yr, were used for a period study. From a detailed analysis of the O-C diagram, it emerged that the orbital period of HW Vir has varied as a combination of a downward-opening parabola and two sinusoidal variations, with cycle lengths of P_3_=15.8yr and P_4_=9.1yr and semiamplitudes of K_3_=77s and K_4_=23s, respectively. The continuous period decrease with a rate of -8.28x10^-9^d/yr may be produced by angular momentum loss due to magnetic stellar wind braking but not by gravitational radiation.
We have derived accurate and homogeneous lithium abundances in 49 Main Sequence binary systems belonging to the Hyades open cluster by using a deconvolution method to determine individual magnitudes and colors for the primary and secondary components of the binary. The input parameters of the model are the observed Li equivalent width, the actual distance to the binary, the integrated apparent magnitude and the integrated colors of the binaries -BV(RI)_K_. We show that the general behavior is the same in binaries and in single stars (Li is depleted faster in K stars than in G stars and there is a deep dip for mid-F stars). However, there is a larger scatter in the abundances of binary systems than in single stars. Moreover, in general, binary systems have an overabundance, which is more conspicuous in close binaries. In fact, there is a cut-off period, which can be estimated as P_orb_~9d. This value is in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction of Zahn (1994).
The Eastern Banded Structure (EBS) and Hydra I halo overdensities are very nearby (d~10kpc) objects discovered in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data. Previous studies of the region have shown that EBS and Hydra I are spatially coincident, cold structures at the same distance, suggesting that Hydra I may be the EBS's progenitor. We combine new wide-field Dark Energy Camera (DECam) imaging and MMT/Hectochelle spectroscopic observations of Hydra I with SDSS archival spectroscopic observations to quantify Hydra I's present-day chemodynamical properties, and to infer whether it originated as a star cluster or dwarf galaxy. While previous work using shallow SDSS imaging assumed a standard old, metal-poor stellar population, our deeper DECam imaging reveals that Hydra I has a thin, well-defined main sequence turnoff of intermediate age (~5-6Gyr) and metallicity ([Fe/H]=-0.9dex). We measure statistically significant spreads in both the iron and alpha-element abundances of {sigma}_[Fe/H]_=0.13+/-0.02dex and {sigma}_[{alpha}/Fe]_=0.09+/-0.03dex, respectively, and place upper limits on both the rotation and its proper motion. Hydra I's intermediate age and [Fe/H] --as well as its low [{alpha}/Fe], apparent [Fe/H] spread, and present-day low luminosity-- suggest that its progenitor was a dwarf galaxy, which has subsequently lost more than 99.99% of its stellar mass.
