Comparison of the four catalogues by pairs,the Hipparcos,new Hipparcos,EOC‐2 and IL,by using μδ for the common 1120 stars

We present comparison results of our Independent Latitude (IL) catalogue of μ_δ determinations for 1120 bright stars with the Hipparcos, new Hipparcos and Earth Orientation Catalogue (EOC‐2) values. Also, we took into consideration the EOC3 and EOC4 (recent versions of EOC catalogues). Our μ_δ values are based on zenith telescope observations from seven Independent Latitude (IL) observatories. The IL measures are spanning a time baseline of up to 90 years which is the key advantage to the accurate determination of μ_δ. The short interval of the Hipparcos satellite observations is a disadvantage for a good accuracy of stellar proper motion, especially in the case of double and multiple stars. For this reason many astrometric catalogues have appeared after the publication of the Hipparcos including our IL catalogue. These catalogues are an appropriate combination of the Hipparcos satellite and ground‐based data which yields more accurate stellar coordinates and/or their proper motions. Among various types of ground‐based observations the latitude and universal time variations obtained from several million observations of stars reduced to the Hipparcos reference system were used for this purpose. These observations were obtained during almost the entire last century and were originally used to determine the Earth Orientation Parameters. It is also possible to use these data in the inverse task of checking the accuracy of stellar coordinates and/or their proper motions listed in the Hipparcos Catalogue. Such latitude and universal time variations data are the basis of the EOC and IL catalogues. In this paper, we computed the differences in μ_δ values between pairs of catalogues and analyzed the results to characterize the μ_δ errors for the four catalogues with a special focus on our IL catalogue. The standard errors of μ_δ for IL stars observed over more than 20 years are mostly smaller than or equal to the Hipparcos errors, and close to the accuracy level of the EOC‐2 (EOC‐3, EOC‐4) and the new Hipparcos. The resulting investigations of errors of differences of μ_δ, show that all four catalogues have relatively small random and systematic errors which are close to each other meaning that the corresponding μ_δ values have a high accuracy. Our sample also contains detected double and multiple stars for which the effects of the orbital and proper motions are difficult to separate. The differences of μ_δ values for these stars generally exceed those obtained for single stars. Also, these discrepancies could be attributed to effect of possible, still unrecognized, astrometric binaries. These investigations about the proper motions and double stars are in line with the activity of the IAU Working Group on Astrometry by Small Ground‐Based Telescopes. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Error analysis of proper motions in decination obtained for 807 Hipparcos stars from PZT observations over many decades

After publication of the Hipparcos catalogue (in 1997), a few new astrometric catalogues have appeared (TYCHO‐2, ARIHIP, etc.), as a good combination of the Hipparcos satellite and ground‐based data, to get more accurate coordinates and proper motions of stars than the Hipparcos catalogue ones. There are also investigations on improving the Hipparcos coordinates and proper motions by using the astrometric observations of latitude and universal time variations (via observed stars referred to Hipparcos catalogue), together with Hipparcos data, carried out during the last few years. These kind of ground‐based data were collected at the end of the last century by J. Vondrák. There are about 4.4 million optical observations made worldwide at 33 observatories and with 47 instruments during 1899.7–1992.0; our Belgrade visual zenith telescope data (for the period 1949.0‐1986.0) were included. First of all, these data were used to determine the Earth Orientation Parameters – EOP, but they are also useful for the opposite task – to check the accuracy of coordinates and proper motions of Hipparcos stars which were observed from the ground over many decades. Here, we use the latitude part of ten Photographic Zenith Tubes – PZT data (more than 0.9 million observations made at 6 observatories during the time interval 1915.8–1992.0), and combine them with the Hipparcos catalogue ones, with suitable weights, in order to check the proper motions in declination for 807 common PZT/Hipparcos stars (and to construct the PZT catalogue of μ_δ for 807 stars). Our standard errors in proper motions in declination of these stars are less than or equal to the Hipparcos ones for 423 stars. The mean value of standard errors of 313 stars observed over more than 20 years by PZT is 0.40 mas/yr. This is 53% of 0.75 mas/yr (the suitable value from the Hipparcos catalogue). We used the Least Squares Method – LSM with the linear model. Our results are in good agreement with the Earth Orientation Catalogue – EOC‐2 and the new Hipparcos ones. The main steps of the method and the investigations of systematic errors in determined proper motions (the proper motion differences with respect to the Hipparcos values, the EOC‐2 ones and the new Hipparcos ones, as a function of α, δ, and magnitude) are presented here. A comparison of the four catalogues by pairs shows that there is no significant relationship between the differences of their μ_δ values and magnitudes and color indices of the common 807 stars. All catalogues have relatively small random and systematic errors which are close to each other. However, the comparison shows that our formal errors are too small. They are underestimated by a factor of nearly 1.7 (for EOC‐2, it is 2.0) if we take the new Hipparcos (or Hipparcos) data as reference (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

L and T brown dwarfs in the Ursa Major moving group

We have applied the “moving cluster” method to an archive of L and T brown dwarf stars to identify those stars which are members of the Ursa Major moving group.We show that five stars have proper motion directions which agree with the direction of motion expected for a cluster member, and which have proper motion distances in agreement with distances determined by trigonometrical parallax observations. We then use 2MASS data to produce an M _K versus J ‐ K _S colour magnitude diagram. The group members define an empirical 400 Myr isochrone, which is compared to theoretical models. This is the first cluster/group to have a known T dwarf member. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evolution of magnetic fields in stars across the upper main sequence: II. Observed distribution of the magnetic field geometry

We re‐discuss the evolutionary state of upper main sequence magnetic stars using a sample of Ap and Bp stars with accurate Hipparcos parallaxes and definitely determined longitudinal magnetic fields. We confirm our previous results obtained from the study of Ap and Bp stars with accurate measurements of the mean magnetic field modulus and mean quadratic magnetic fields that magnetic stars of mass M < 3 M_⊙ are concentrated towards the centre of the main‐sequence band. In contrast, stars with masses M > 3 M_⊙ seem to be concentrated closer to the ZAMS. The study of a few known members of nearby open clusters with accurate Hipparcos parallaxes confirms these conclusions. Stronger magnetic fields tend to be found in hotter, younger and more massive stars, as well as in stars with shorter rotation periods. The longest rotation periods are found only in stars which spent already more than 40% of their main sequence life, in the mass domain between 1.8 and 3 M_⊙ and with log g values ranging from 3.80 to 4.13. No evidence is found for any loss of angular momentum during the main‐sequence life. The magnetic flux remains constant over the stellar life time on the main sequence. An excess of stars with large obliquities β is detected in both higher and lower mass stars. It is quite possible that the angle β becomes close to 0. in slower rotating stars of mass M > 3 M_⊙ too, analog to the behaviour of angles β in slowly rotating stars of M < 3 M_⊙. The obliquity angle distribution as inferred from the distribution of r ‐values appears random at the time magnetic stars become observable on the H‐R diagram. After quite a short time spent on the main sequence, the obliquity angle β tends to reach values close to either 90. or 0. for M < 3 M_⊙. The evolution of the obliquity angle β seems to be somewhat different for low and high mass stars. While we find a strong hint for an increase of β with the elapsed time on the main sequence for stars with M > 3 M_⊙, no similar trend is found for stars with M < 3 M_⊙. However, the predominance of high values of β at advanced ages in these stars is notable. As the physics governing the processes taking place in magnetised atmospheres remains poorly understood, magnetic field properties have to be considered in the framework of dynamo or fossil field theories. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Proper motions,absolute magnitudes and spatial distribution of Zirconium stars

The computational algorithm to determine the the proper motions of Zirconium stars on the basis of catalogues “Carte du Ciel” and on the recent photographic observations carried out with the 70cm Abastumani meniscus telescope is presented. It allowed to determine the proper motions of 288 stars in the region around α Per with a rms error of ± 0,004 arcsec/yr. Applying the method proper motions of 74 Zirconium stars and 146 control stars have been obtained. The error of proper motions obtained for the North Zone (δ > −2°) 109 AGK₃ control stars is ± 0.006 arcsec/yr. On the basis of proper motins absolute magnitudes were separately calculated for the MCLPZS and LASZS. For the MCLPZS the average absolute visual magnitude at maximum, corresponding to the mean period of P = 350 days, equals −3^ϕm.9. For the LASZS the mean absolute visual magnitude, corresponding to the apparent median ones equals −1^ϕm.9. Low luminosity (M_v = −1^ϕmϕ9) Zirconium stars escape rather far (at a distance of up to 2 kpc) to the South from the Galactic plane into the region l ∼ 240 – 260°, where its assumed to be a connection with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) begins to appear. Low luminosity Zirconium stars are weakly correlated with position of the Galaxy spiral arms. The MCLPZS show a somewhat other distribution.     

Intrinsic colour indices of Be stars obtained from 2MASS photometry

This paper is based on 2MASS photometry (J H K_s magnitudes) of 1172 Be stars. The observed mean intrinsic colours have been derived with aid of two‐colour diagrams for Be stars of luminosity classes Ie‐IIe, IIIe and IVe‐Ve. The obtained results are the first determinations of their intrinsic colours in the astronomical literature. The smoothed infrared colours are compared with those obtained for “normal” B stars. Several two‐colour diagrams and plots of observed and smoothed intrinsic colour versus spectral type of luminosity classes Ie‐IIe, IIIe and IVe‐Ve are presented. Generally the determined infrared intrinsic colours of Be stars (V – J)₀, (V – H)₀, and (V – K_s)_o differ substantially from those of “normal” B stars. It is found that the intrinsic colours of B stars are generally bluer than Be stars of corresponding spectral type and luminosity class. The mean absolute visual magnitude M_v of 528 Be stars for luminosity classes Iae, Ibe‐Iabe, IIe, IIIe and IVe‐Ve is derived from HIPPARCOS parallaxes. The M_v calibration is compared with the existing ones. The Be stars are generally brighter than “normal” B stars of corresponding spectral types. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The kinematics of Trapezium-type systems

Summary In this paper the results of the research of the stars proper motions Trapezium components are reported. They are: the galactic coordinates of the solar aprx and the Sun velocity (L _⊙=43±18°,B _⊙=+28±13°,V _⊙=13±4 km s⁻¹), the dispersion of peculiar velocities in the direction of the galactic coordinates for the above mentioned stars (σ _l =±11 km s⁻¹, σ _b =±7 km s⁻¹).The attained accuracy of the proper motions (±0.005″ yr⁻¹) is shown to be insufficient to the study of internal space motions in these systems. At present the work to increase the relative proper motions accuracy for multiple system components and to improve reductions from the relative to absolute proper motions, is being carried out in the Main Astronomical Observatory (Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR). The new catalogue of the AGK3 stars is composed now in the vicinity of the galactic equator in order to improve reductions from the relative to absolute proper motions. The r.m.s. errors of the proper motions, obtained in the AGK3 system, are ±0.005″ yr⁻¹.     

Candidate red clump giants in the PPMX catalogue

This paper presents the RCGP catalogue of more than 0.5 million candidate red clump stars with the limiting magnitude K _s = 9.5 ^m . These stars are selected from the PPMX catalogue as the most probable red clump members by analyzing the color-reduced proper motion diagrams built from the proper motions given in PPMX and J, K _s -photometry given in the 2MASS catalogue. Reddening of the selected stars is used to find extinction in the K _s -band and to consider it in the further analysis. The two-dimensional galactic rotation model generalized by Ogorodnikov is used to investigate the tangential velocity field of the selected red clump members, most of which are thin disk stars located within 1.5 kpc from the sun. The values of kinematic parameters and solar components are determined as a function of stellar heights above the galactic equatorial plane and their heliocentric distances.     

Johnson‐Cousins magnitudes of comparison stars in the fields of ten Seyfert galaxies

We present UBVR_CI_C magnitudes of 49 comparison stars in the fields of the Seyfert galaxies Mrk 335, Mrk 79, Mrk 279, Mrk 506, 3C 382, 3C 390.3, NGC 6814, Mrk 304, Ark 564, and NGC 7469 in order to facilitate the photometric monitoring of these objects; 36 of the stars have not been calibrated before. The comparison stars are situated in 5 × 5 arcmin fields centred on the Seyfert galaxies, their V band flux ranges from 11.7 to 18.2 mag with a median value of 16.3 mag, and their B – V colour index ranges from 0.4 to 1.6 mag with a median value of 0.8 mag. The median errors of the calibrated UBVR_CI_C magnitudes are 0.08, 0.04, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.06 mag, respectively. Comparison stars were calibrated for the first time in three of the fields (Mrk 506, 3C 382, and Mrk 304). The comparison sequences in the other fields were improved in various aspects. Extra stars were calibrated in four fields (Mrk 335, Mrk 79, NGC 6814, and NGC 7469) – most of these stars are fainter and are situated closer to the Seyfert galaxies compared to the existing comparison stars. The passband coverage of the sequences in five fields (Mrk 335, Mrk 79, Mrk 279, NGC 6814, and Ark 564) was complemented with the U band. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A revisit to agglomerates of early‐type Hipparcos stars

We study the spatial structure and sub‐structure of regions rich in Hipparcos stars with blue B_T – V_T colours. These regions, which comprise large stellar complexes, OB associations, and young open clusters, are tracers of on‐going star formation in the Galaxy. The DBSCAN (Density‐Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise) data clustering algorithm is used to look for spatial overdensities of early‐type stars. Once an overdensity, “agglomerate”, is identified, we carry out a data and bibliographic compilation of their star member candidates. The actual membership in agglomerate of each early‐type star is studied based on its heliocentric distance, proper motion, and previous spectro‐photometric information. We identify 35 agglomerates of early‐type Hipparcos stars. Most of them are associated to previously known clusters and OB associations. The previously unknown P Puppis agglomerate is subject of a dedicated study with Virtual Observatory tools. It is actually a new, nearby, young open cluster (d ∼ 470 pc, age ∼ 20 Ma) with a clear radial density gradient.We list P Puppis and other six agglomerates (including NGC 2451 A, vdBH 23, and Trumpler 10) as new sites for substellar searches because of their youth, closeness, and spatial density. We investigate in detail the sub‐structure in the Orion, CMa‐Pup and Pup‐Vel OB complexes (“super‐agglomerates”). We confirm or discover some stellar overdensities in the Orion complex, like the 25 Ori group, the Horsehead region (including the σ Orionis cluster), and the η Orionis agglomerate. Finally, we derive accurate parallactic distances to the Pleiades, NGC 2451 A, and IC 2391, describe several field early‐type stars at d < 200 pc, and discuss the incompleteness of our search. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A search for magnetic fields in cool sdB stars

Hot cluster horizontal branch (HB) stars and field subdwarf B (sdB) stars are core helium burning stars that exhibit abundance anomalies that are believed to be due to atomic diffusion. Diffusion can be effective in these stars because they are slowly rotating. In particular, the slow rotation of the hot HB stars (T_eff > 11000 K), which show abundance anomalies, contrasts with the fast rotation of the cool HB stars, where the observed abundances are consistent with those of red giants belonging to the same cluster. The reason why sdB stars and hot HB stars are rotating slowly is unknown. In order to assess the possible role of magnetic fields on abundances and rotation, we investigated the occurrence of such fields in sdB stars with T_eff < 30 000 K, whose temperatures overlap with those of the hot HB stars. We conclude that large‐scale organised magnetic fields of kG order are not generally present in these stars but at the achieved accuracy, the possibility that they have fields of a few hundred Gauss remains open. We report the marginal detection of such a field in SB 290; further observations are needed to confirm it (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Using the reduced proper motions of Tycho-2 stars with <Emphasis Type="Italic">B-V</Emphasis> from 0.75 to 1.25: Monte Carlo simulations

The stellar composition of the Tycho-2 Catalogue in the range B-V = 0_· ^m 75–1_· ^m 25 has been reproduced through Monte Carlo simulations. For young and old stars of the red giant clump (RGC), the red giant branch, subgiants, red dwarfs, and thick-disk giants, we have specified the distributions in coordinates, velocities, B-V, and M _V as a function of B-V and calculated their reduced proper motions, photometric distances from the (B-V)-M _V calibration, and photoastrometric distances from the reduced proper motion-M _V calibration. Our simulations have shown the following: (1) a sample of thin-disk giants within 500 pc with an admixture of less than 10% of other stars can be produced; (2) a sample of dwarfs within 100 pc almost without any admixture of other stars can be produced; (3) the Local Spiral Arm affects the RGC composition of any magnitude-limited catalog in favor of giants younger than 2 Gyr; (4) the samples produced using reduced proper motions can be used for kinematic studies, provided that the biases of the quantities being determined are simulated and taken into account; (5) the photometric distances correlate with the photoastrometric ones because of the correlation between the proper motion and magnitude; (6) the photometric distances are closer to the true ones for the red giant branch and red dwarfs as the categories of stars with a clear (B-V)-M _V relation, while the photoastrometric distances are closer to the true ones for the RGC, subgiants, and thick-disk giants; (7) the calculated distances differ systematically from the true ones, but they can be used to analyze the three-dimensional distribution of stars. Our simulations confirm the validity of our previous selection of RGC stars from Tycho-2.     

New absolute magnitude calibrations for WUrsa Majoris type binaries

Parallaxes of W UMa stars in the Hipparcos catalogue have been analyzed. 31 W UMa stars, which have the most accurate parallaxes (σ_π /π < 0.15) which are neither associated with a photometric tertiary nor with evidence of a visual companion, were selected for re‐calibrating the Period‐Luminosity‐Color (PLC) relation of W UMa stars. Using the Lutz‐Kelker (LK) bias corrected (most probable) parallaxes, periods (0.26 < P < 0.87, P in days), and colors (0.04 < (B – V)₀ < 1.28) of the 31 selected W UMa, the PLC relation have been revised and re‐calibrated. The difference between the old (revised but not bias corrected) and the new (LK bias corrected) relations are almost negligible in predicting the distances of W UMa stars up to about 100 pc. But, it increases and may become intolerable as distances of stars increase. Additionally, using (J – H)₀ and (H – K_s)₀ colors from 2MASS (TwoMicron All Sky Survey) data, a PLC relation working with infrared data was derived. It can be used with infrared colors in the range –0.01 < (J – H)₀ < 0.58, and –0.10 < (H – K_s)₀ < 0.18. Despite of the fact that the 2MASS data refer to single epoch observations which are not guaranteed to be taken at maximum brightness of theWUMa stars, the established relation has been found surprisingly consistent and reliable in predicting LK corrected distances of W UMa stars (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Determining the orientation parameters of the ICRS/UCAC2 system using the Kharkov catalog of absolute stellar proper motions

The absolute proper motions of about 275 million stars from the Kharkov XPM catalog have been obtained by comparing their positions in the 2MASS and USNO-A2.0 catalogs with an epoch difference of about 45 yr for northern-hemisphere stars and about 17 yr for southern-hemisphere stars. The zero point of the system of absolute proper motions has been determined using 1.45 million galaxies. The equatorial components of the residual rotation vector of the ICRS/UCAC2 coordinate system relative to the system of extragalactic sources have been determined by comparing the XPM and UCAC2 stellar proper motions: ω _x,y,z = (−0.06, 0.17, −0.84) ± (0.15, 0.14, 0.14) mas yr⁻¹. These parameters have been calculated using about 1 million faintest UCAC2 stars with magnitudes R _UCAC2 > 16 ^m and J > 14 ^m . 7, for which the color and magnitude equation effects are negligible.     

An infrared imaging search for low‐mass companions to members of the young nearby β Pic and Tucana/Horologium associations

We present deep high dynamic range infrared images of young nearby stars in the Tucana/Horologium and β Pic associations, all ∼10 to 35 Myrs young and at ∼10 to 60 pc distance. Such young nearby stars are well‐suited for direct imaging searches for brown dwarf and even planetary companions, because young sub‐stellar objects are still self‐luminous due to contraction and accretion. We performed our observations at the ESO 3.5m NTT with the normal infrared imaging detector SofI and the MPE speckle camera Sharp‐I. Three arc sec north of GSC 8047‐0232 in Horologium a promising brown dwarf companion candidate is detected, which needs to be confirmed by proper motion and/or spectroscopy. Several other faint companion candidates are already rejected by second epoch imaging. Among 21 stars observed in Tucana/Horologium, there are not more than one to five brown dwarf companions outside of 75 AU (1.5″ at 50 pc); most certainly only ≤5% of the Tuc/HorA stars have brown dwarf companions (13 to 78 Jupiter masses) outside of 75 AU. For the first time, we can report an upper limit for the frequency of massive planets (∼10 M_jup) at wide separations (∼100 AU) using a meaningfull and homogeneous sample: Of 11 stars observed sufficiently deep in β Pic (12 Myrs), not more than one has a massive planet outside of ∼100 AU, i.e. massive planets at large separations are rare (≤9%). (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A near‐infrared/optical/X‐ray survey in the centre of σ Orionis

Because of the intense brightness of the OB‐type multiple star system σ Ori, the low‐mass stellar and substellar populations close to the centre of the very young σ Orionis cluster is poorly know. I present an IJHK_s survey in the cluster centre, able to detect from the massive early‐type stars down to cluster members below the deuterium burning mass limit. The near‐infrared and optical data have been complemented with X‐ray imaging. Ten objects have been found for the first time to display high‐energy emission. Previously known stars with clear spectroscopic youth indicators and/or X‐ray emission define a clear sequence in the I vs. I – K_s diagram. I have found six new candidate cluster members that follow this sequence. One of them, in the magnitude interval of the brown dwarfs in the cluster, displays X‐ray emission and a very red J – K_s colour, indicative of a disc. Other three low‐mass stars have excesses in the K_s band as well. The frequency of X‐ray emitters in the area is 80±20 %. The spatial density of stars is very high, of up to 1.6±0.1 arcmin^–2. There is no indication of lower abundance of substellar objects in the cluster centre. Finally, I also report two cluster stars with X‐ray emission located at only 8000–11000 AU to σ Ori AB, two sources with peculiar colours and an object with X‐ray emission and near‐infrared magnitudes similar to those of previously‐known substellar objects in the cluster. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magnetic survey of emission line B‐type stars with FORS 1 at the VLT

We report the results of our search for magnetic fields in a sample of 16 field Be stars, the binary emission‐line B‐type star υ Sgr, and in a sample of fourteen members of the open young cluster NGC3766 in the Carina spiral arm. The sample of cluster members includes Be stars, normal B‐type stars and He‐strong/He‐weak stars. Nine Be stars have been studied with magnetic field time series obtained over ∼1 hour to get an insight into the temporal behaviour and the correlation of magnetic field properties with dynamical phenomena taking place in Be star atmospheres. The spectropolarimetric data were obtained at the European Southern Observatory with the multi‐mode instrument FORS1 installed at the 8m Kueyen telescope. We detect weak photospheric magnetic fields in four field Be stars, HD 62367, μ Cen, o Aqr, and ε Tuc. The strongest longitudinal magnetic field, 〈B_z〉 = 117 ± 38 G, was detected in the Be star HD 62367. Among the Be stars studied with time series, one Be star, λ Eri, displays cyclic variability of the magnetic field with a period of 21.12 min. The binary star υ Sgr, in the initial rapid phase of mass exchange between the two components with strong emission lines in the visible spectrum, is a magnetic variable star, probably on a timescale of a few months. The maximum longitudinal magnetic field 〈B_z〉 = –102 ± 10 G at MJD 54333.018 was measured using hydrogen lines. The cluster NGC3766 seems to be extremely interesting, where we find evidence for the presence of a magnetic field in seven early B‐type stars out of the observed fourteen cluster members (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Constraining the 13C neutron source in AGB stars through isotopic analysis of trace elements in presolar SiC

Abstract— Analyses of the isotopic compositions of multiple elements (Mo, Zr, and Ba) in individual mainstream presolar SiC grains were done by resonant ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). While most heavy element compositions were consistent with model predictions for the slow neutron capture process (s‐process) in low‐mass (1.5–3 M_⊙) asymptotic giant branch stars of solar metallicity when viewed on single‐element three‐isotope plots, grains with compositions deviating from model predictions were identified on multi‐element plots. These grains have compositions that cannot result from any neutron capture process but can be explained by contamination in some elements with solar system material. Previous work in which only one heavy element per grain was examined has been unable to identify contaminated grains. The multi‐element analyses of this study detected contaminated grains which were subsequently eliminated from consideration. The uncontaminated grains form a data set with a greatly reduced spread on the three‐isotope plots of each element measured, corresponding to a smaller range of ¹³C pocket efficiencies in parent AGB stars. Furthermore, due to this reduced spread, the nature of the stellar starting material, previously interpreted as having solar isotopic composition, is uncertain. The constraint on ¹³C pocket efficiencies in parent stars of these grains may help uncover the mechanism responsible for formation of ¹³C, the primary neutron source for s‐process nucleosynthesis in low‐mass stars.