Color gradients in four king type globular clusters: NGC 2298, NGC 6402, NGC 6934, and NGC 7089

We present CCD surface photometry for four globular clusters: NGC 2298, NGC 6402, NGC 6934 and NGC 7089. Our photometry was aimed at the central 3 arcmin region in each cluster. We show that the surface brightness distributions of these clusters are well described by the isothermal King (1966) models. Our color analysis shows that NGC 7089 exhibits a remarkable color gradient in which the central region is bluer than the outer parts by the amplitude inB-V 0.1 mag/. Color gradients have also been detected in the central regions of NGC 6402 and NGC 6934, although the variation does not extend to outer part. No gradient has been detected in NGC 2298. Similar color gradients have been previsouly observed exclusively in highly concentrated systems classified as post core collapse clusters.     

Two-dimensional classification of globular clusters

The metallicities of 75 globular clusters are determined in the Pilachowskiet al. scale from the slopes of their giant branches in theV, B-V diagram. In the diagram giant branch slope, horizontal branch morphology type, the clusters form two sequences: a vertical sequence (group I) with blue horizontal branches and [Fe/H] from –2.2 to –1.2 and a diagonal sequence (group II) with horizontal branches changing from the blue to the red parallel with an increase of metallicity from –1.8 to –1.0. The differences in horizontal branch morphology of both cluster groups are probably caused by the difference in age, which is found to be of the order 1–2 billion years. It is shown that integrated reddening-free quantitiesQ and integrated spectral types cannot be used to determine metalicity without a previous division of clusters into groups.     

The age determination of young clusters in the large magellanic cloud by means of integrated photometry

The relationt=t(Q), obtained from theoretical integrated colours (B-V)₀ and (U-B)₀ for Pop. I clusters, has been employed to date a group of 13 young clusters in the LMC. The comparison with the ages derived by the t.o.p. method shows that the theoretical integrated colour indices of clusters, with evolved stars in the mass range 5–15M , are systematically bluer than the observed ones.The analysis performed indicate that, in order to reconcile observed and computed colours, the maximum effective temperature of evolved stars should be suitably lowered. The hypothesis has been advanced that such changes can be obtained by the inclusion of the mass loss in the computation of evolutionary tracks.     

球状星团成员星的空间相关性分析

以球状星团NGC (New General Catalogue) 104、NGC 5139、NGC 6121为实验样区, 选取了视差等10个恒星参数, 通过引入地学中的空间分析理论和相应的分析框架为定量描述球状星团成员星的空间分布特征提出了一种基于地学的研究范式. 通过计算全局和局部莫兰(Moran)指数得到球状星团成员星各恒星参数的空间分布特征. 研究结果表明: 球状星团NGC 104、NGC 5139、NGC 6121成员星的各恒星参数在总体上呈现出空间正相关特性, 表现出空间集聚特征, 但不同恒星参数之间存在差异; 局部空间分布也呈现聚集特征, 而不同的成员星呈现出不同的空间分布特性和趋势. 总体而言, 用地学空间相关分析系统地定量化描述球状星团成员星空间分布特征, 能够为球状星团的研究提供新的思路.     

The system of old clusters in the magellanic clouds

IntegratedUBV colours have been computed for synthetic clusters older than one billion years and for two chemical composition: (a)Y=0.30;Z=10^–4 and (b)Y=0.30;Z=10^–2, taking into account the contribution to the integrated light of Main Sequence, subgiant, red giant and horizontal branch stars. It has been found that integrated colours depend onZ and allow an estimate of the metal content, however not generally. Horizontal branch stars contribute to the integrated colours of clusters not significantly and the contribution of stars in more advanced phases (e.g., asymptotic branch stars) is almost negligible.Old clusters in LMC and SMC have been studied in terms of colour calibrations and this analysis has been supplemented, when possible, by photometric and spectroscopic data of individual stars. It was found that in the LMC clusters withZ=10^–2 andt>5×10⁹ yr are lacking, clusters with relatively blue colours are similar, both in age and chemical composition, to the halo galactic globular clusters. Moreover, there is a group of clusters with 1×10⁹t5×10⁹. In the SMC clusters withZ=10^–2 andt>5×10⁹ yr are lacking and clusters with 1×10⁹t5×10⁹ are rare. Clusters with relatively blue colours are interpreted with the following parameters:t=5×10⁹ yr, 10^–4Z10^–3 andY=0.20.The implication of these results on the chemical history of the two galaxies is discussed.     

On the existence of cosmological evolutionary effects

Parameters of the distant galaxy clusters of 3C295 (z=0.46) and Cl 0024+1654 (z=0.39) are compared with the predictions made using galaxies of the local clusters Coma (z=0.023) and DC 0329–52 (z=0.057) taking theK-effect into account. The distributions of colour and morphological type, and the amplitudesF ⁺/F^– of the ₀ 4000 discontinuity are examined and no evidence for evolution of the galaxies and the clusters can be seen.     

Bursts of gravitational radiation from active galactic nuclei and globular clusters

The characteristics of gravitational bursts from active galactic nuclei, and globular clusters are obtained for three astrophysical situations:(i) scattering of stars by massive black holes residued at the centers of galaxies and globular clusters; (ii) the close encounters of stars in the nuclear regions of these objects; (iii) scattering of stars by black holes of stellar mass containing in the stellar population of galactic nuclei and clusters. The most effective source of gravitational bursts appears to be a scattering of stars by the massive central black holes which produces the bursts with dimensionless amplitudeh10^–19–10^–21 and frequencies from 10^–1 to 10^–5 Hz. The characteristics obtained correspond to the possiblities of a future gravitational-wave experiment with use of laser Doppler tracking of interplanetary spacecrafts.     

DDO integrated photometry of globular clusters and initial chemical evolution of the galaxy

Integrated photometry of 91 galactic globular clusters was carried out with theUBV and DDO systems. A method to determine reddening is presented. Metal abundances were obtained by means of a calibration ofC(42–45)₀ vs [Fe/H]. Thirteen other clusters whose metallicity values were made compatible with those observed here, were added to the sample totalizing a homogenous set of [Fe/H] estimates for 104 globular clusters. This sample is used to analyze the spatial distribution of metallicities. An estimate of the intrinsic metal abundance frequency distribution of the globular cluster system is provided. The chemical properties of the globular cluster system are compared with one-zone-chemical-enrichment models which take into account gas loss from star formation regions. It is concluded that these models cannot describe the complete chemical enrichment of the globular cluster system.     

On the possibility of using metal unblanketed model atmospheres for analysis of population II stars

A comparison between model atmosphere grids with and without metal blanketing has been performed in the low-temperature range (T _eff=6000 K to 10000 K) and for different metal contents (logA=0, –1, –2;A=scaled solar abundance). ForA10^–1 andT _eff7000 K, the Johnson colour indicesU-B andB-V, together with the Strömgrenu-b, b-y and the bolometric correction (BC) are little affected by metal blanketing ( mag<0 _. ^m 04). On the other hand, the trend of the physical quantities and them ₁ andc ₁ colour indices reflect the inadequateness of the models even withA=10^–2 andT _eff=9500 K, where hydrogen line blanketing is expected to dominate. This fact discourages once and for all the use of metal unblanketed atmospheres other than for comparison of colour indices or the calculation of bolometric corrections for Population II A-F spectral types.     

On the continuum and the absolute magnitude of eta Carinae

The excitation temperature, colour excess and continuum of Car in the visible and near ultraviolet have been determined from the study of the excitation of the ionized iron emission lines. The excitation temperatures of Feii and [Feii] are about 8000K, value which is very much lower than the mean ionization temperature of the elements in Car.E _B-V is about 1^m.1; the absolute visual magnitude is presently –10^m.5±1^m. From the equivalent widths of the emission lines the true continuum between 1.5 and 3.0 ^–1 has been derived. The correspondingB-V is –0^m.14, while the Balmer jump is less than 0^m.5. The continuum appears mainly nebular in origin with a strong contribution of the two-photon emission from the 2s-level of hydrogen in the blue.     

Deep CCD photometry of stars in the globular cluster M3

Preliminary results on new CCD photometry inV andB bands of approximately 5000 stars in four overlapping fields in the globular cluster M3 are presented. The colour-magnitude diagram shows a very well-defined sequence with a small scatter, going fainter than previously published work on this cluster. The turn-off point found atV=19.1±0.2 mag and (B-V)=0.445±0.01, is slightly redder than those obtained in previous studies.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Interaction of low- and high-velocity systems in the galaxy NGC 1275

Published data on gas systems of different velocities in the galaxy NGC 1275 are examined. One of the systems is associated with NGC 1275 (low-velocity system — LV); the other is approaching it at a velocity of 3000 km/sec (high-velocity system — HV). Many of the collected results obtained from spectra and from direct images in the ultraviolet, optical, red, and infrared indicate interaction of these systems. The interaction is exhibited in the same shape and spatial distribution of the gas filaments in both systems, in the elongation of some of them toward the nucleus of the galaxy, and in the increase in brightness of the HV gas near some of the clusters of young stars of the LV system. Gas of the HV system is observed at a distance of O.5 (170 pc) from the nucleus of the galaxy, while intermediate-velocity gas (IV — 600–1520 km/sec relative to the velocity of NGC 1275) is detected at distances less than 7 (2.5 kpc). We presume that the rare cases of the detection of IV gas are related to the use of H_a observations primarily: at the velocities of 600–900 km/sec, the H_a line of the IV gas blends with the [NII] 6584Å line of the LV gas.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 567–584, November, 1996.     

Interstellar extinction and diffuse absorption features

The equivalent width of the 2175 Å band,W ₂₁₇₅, well known as the big bump in the interstellar extinction curves, has been found to be closely correlated with the colour excessE _B-V as well as with the extinction differencesE _8–6 andE _9–7 defined to characterize quantitatively the steep slopes of the extinction curves in the far ultraviolet.The equivalent widths of the 5780 and 5797 Å diffuse lines show good correlation withE _B-V. The correlations ofW ₅₇₈₀ andW ₅₇₉₇ withE _8–6 resp.E _9–7 are, however, rather weak. Correlations betweenW ₂₁₇₅ andW ₅₇₈₀ and betweenW ₂₁₇₅ andW ₅₇₉₇ are indicated.The results have been qualitatively interpreted in favour of the dust model consisting of a mixture of small silicate grains and larger silicate grains coated by molecular mantles.Paper presented at the Symposium on Solid State Astrophysics, held at the University College, Cardiff, Wales, between 9–12 July 1974.     

The ionized gas in NGC 4945

Physical conditions and relative abundance ratios of the ionized medium of NGC 4945 are discussed. The spectral characteristics indicate forT _e=10⁴ K a relatively low electron density (N _e1250 cm^–3) decreasing outwards. N(N)/N(H) and N(S)/N(H) diminish with the distance from the nucleus while N(N)/N(S) is nearly constant. These abundance gradients, the lack of kinematical evidences of a bar and the observational difficulties to grasp its morphology, make it improbable that NGC 4945 could be classified as a barred galaxy.     

Keck imaging of the globular cluster systems in the early-type galaxies NGC 1052 and 7332

The presence of two globular cluster subpopulations in early-type galaxies is now the norm rather than the exception. Here we present two more examples for which the host galaxy appears to have undergone a recent merger. Using multi-colour Keck imaging of NGC 1052 and 7332 we find evidence for a bimodal globular cluster colour distribution in both galaxies, with roughly equal numbers of blue and red globular clusters. The blue ones have similar colours to those in the Milky Way halo and are thus probably very old and metal-poor. If the red globular cluster subpopulations are at least of solar metallicity, then stellar population models indicate young ages. We discuss the origin of globular clusters within the framework of formation models. We conclude that recent merger events in these two galaxies have had little effect on their overall globular cluster systems. We also derive globular cluster density profiles, global specific frequencies and, in the case of NGC 1052, radial colour gradients and azimuthal distribution. In general these globular cluster properties are normal for early-type galaxies.     

Type I supernova 1974g in NGC 4414

Photographic image-tube spectra (150 Å mm^–1, 4500 Å-7000 Å) of the type I supernova (1974g) in the Sc galaxy NGC 4414 obtained at phases+ 14 days and + 40 days past maximum light have been reduced to absolute flux. The positions of various spectral features and the overall appearance of the spectra of SN 1974g closely match previously observed type I SN spectra at similar phases. An electronographic isophotal map of NGC 4414 is presented, and an accurate position of SN 1974g given. A distance to NGC 4414 of 15 Mpc was determined from the recessional velocities and the diameters of Hii regions; while the absolute magnitude at maximum light of SN 1974g was found to beM _B(max)=–19.0. Estimates of the radius of the expanding photosphere of SN 1974g, cetermined by two independent methods, giveR10¹⁵ cm in the early post-maximum phases. The time of outburst,t=–25 days, has been estimated for SN 1974g. By assuming the broad emission feature observed at 6480 Å to be H, very rough estimates of the electron density and the mass of ionized hydrogen in the expanding supernova envelope are given. The total (observed) luminous energy of SN 1974g was 10⁵¹ erg.     

Nebulosities around QSOs

In this paper independent evidence in favour of the hypothesis proposed by Thakur and Sapre (1979) that a QSO consists of a bright central object embedded in an extended nebulosity has been presented. _U–B and _B–V , the spectral indices in (U-B) and (B-V) colours, have been calculated for a sample of 80 QSOs with redshiftz0.76. In Figure 1 = ( _B–V – _U–V ) has been plotted against = ( _B–V + _U–B )/2. In this figure the QSOs in which detectability of neubulosities has been predicted by Thakur and Sapre (1979) occupy a separate but adjacent part of the diagram as compared to those for which such a prediction has not been made. In Figure 2 (U-B)₀ has been plotted against (B-V)₀ for the same sample of 80 QSOs, where (U-B)₀ and (B-V)₀ are the (U-B) and (B-V) colours corrected for galactic extinction. In this plot also, a similar separation of the two classes of objects is discernible. Another empirical criterion—namely, (B-V)₀0.32 for the detectability of nebulosities around QSOs—has been suggested.     

Die offenen sternhaufen M36, M38 und NGC 2477

The open star clusters M36, M38 and NGC 2477 were investigated by the strip method on charts of photographs taken with the Schmidt-Spiegel of the German Observatory Hoher List (M36/38) and the Curtis-Schmidt Telescope of the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory (NGC 2477). The results are — Masses: 830, 2350, 4400 ; radii: 6.4, 10.0, 10.0 pc; central densities: 9.9, 15.3, 32.5 pc^–3; density laws: Gaussian (M36), generalized law of Schuster withn=3.00, 2.79; mean velocities of the stars 0.74, 1.01, 1.38 km s^–1.

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Mitteilungen Serie A.     

Feeding Monsters – A Study of Active Galaxies

We present new interferometric observations of the molecular gas distribution and kinematics in the nuclei of different active galaxies at high angular resolution and high sensitivity carried out with the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer (PdBI). The observations cover galaxies in a redshift range of 0.03–1.4. We have so far observed five different active galaxies: NGC3718, NGC1068, HE1029–1831, 3C48 and Q0957+561. The first two objects belong to the NUGA (NUclei of GAlaxies) project – an international collaboration mainly between Spain, France and Germany – containing about 30 Seyfert and LINER galaxies. Both are at the same distance of 14Mpc and show a warped gas and dust disk. The new mosaic map of NGC3718 corrected for short-spacing effects with IRAM 30 m observations well demonstrates the existence of the warped gas disk with several secondary maxima in the projected gas distribution caused by orbit crowding effects. Based on these new data we have improved recent simulations of the warped disk in NGC3718. HE1029–1831 and 3C48 are nearby QSOs. HE1029–1831 is taken out of the Cologne nearby QSO sample. The maps of the integrated CO(1–0) and CO(2–1) emission clearly show that the molecular gas is mostly related to the central bulge with a non-negligible fraction distributed along the bar known from optical observations. Our new CO data of 3C48 unveil new information about the kinematics of its molecular gas complementing and improving further studies based on previous infrared observations and detailed multi-particle simulations. Finally, new measurements of the CO(1–0) line in Q0957+561 – a highly-red-shifted, gravitationally lensed quasar – will be presented as a link to earlier evolutionary stages of active galaxies and their hosts.