arXiv subjects

Carla Cacciari

Publications and source records attributed to Carla Cacciari.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

Mapping the stellar populations of the Milky Way with Gaia

Gaia will be ESA's milestone astrometric mission, and is due for launch at the end of 2013. Gaia will repeatedly map the whole sky measuring about one billion sources to V=20-22 mag. Its data products will be μas accuracy astrometry, optical spectrophotometry and medium resolution spectroscopy. A description of the Gaia space mission and its characteristics and performance is given. The expected impact on Galactic stellar population studies is discussed, with particular attention to the sources of interest for CoRoT and Kepler.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Does the Oosterhoff Dichotomy Exist in The Andromeda Galaxy? I. The case of G11

We present the first evidence that Oosterhoff type II globular clusters exist in the Andromeda galaxy (M31). On the basis of time-series photometry of the moderately metal-poor ([Fe/H]\sim -1.6 dex) M31 globular cluster G11, obtained with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope, we detected and derived periods for 14 RR Lyrae stars, of which five are found to lie inside the cluster tidal radius. They include three fundamental-mode (RRab) and two first-overtone (RRc) pulsators, with average periods = 0.70 d, and = 0.40 d, respectively. These mean periods and the position of the cluster variable stars in the period-amplitude and period-metallicity diagrams, all suggest that G11 is likely to be an Oosterhoff type II globular cluster. This appears to be in agreement with the general behavior of Milky Way globular clusters with similar metallicity and horizontal branch morphology.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The horizontal branch luminosity vs metallicity in M31 globular clusters

Thanks to the outstanding capabilites of the HST, our current knowledge about the M31 globular clusters (GCs) is similar to our knowledge of the Milky Way GCs in the 1960s-1970s, which set the basis for studying the halo and galaxy formation using these objects as tracers, and established their importance in defining the cosmic distance scale. We intend to derive a new calibration of the M_V(HB)-[Fe/H] relation by exploiting the large photometric database of old GCs in M31 in the HST archive. We collected the BVI data for 48 old GCs in M31 and analysed them by applying the same methods and procedures to all objects. We obtained a set of homogeneous colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) that were best-fitted with the fiducial CMD ridge lines of selected Milky Way template GCs. Reddening, metallicity, Horizontal Branch (HB) luminosity and distance were determined self-consistently for each cluster. There are three main results of this study: i) the relation M_V(HB)=(0.25+/-0.02)[Fe/H]+(0.89+/-0.03), which is obtained from the above parameters and is calibrated on the distances of the template Galactic GCs; ii) the distance modulus to M31 of (m-M)_0=24.42+/-0.06 mag, obtained by normalising this relation at the reference value of [Fe/H]=-1.5 to a similar relation using V_0(HB). This is the first determination of the distance to M31 based on the characteristics of its GC system which is calibrated on Galactic GCs; iii) the distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which is estimated to be 18.54+/-0.07 mag as a consequence of the previous results. These values agree excellently with the most recent estimate based on HST parallaxes of Galactic Cepheid and RR Lyrae stars, as well as with recent methods.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2011

Hide and seek between Andromeda's halo, disk, and giant stream

Photometry in B, V (down to V ~ 26 mag) is presented for two 23' x 23' fields of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) that were observed with the blue channel camera of the Large Binocular Telescope during the Science Demonstration Time. Each field covers an area of about 5.1kpc x 5.1kpc at the distance of M31 ((m-M)o ~ 24.4 mag), sampling, respectively, a northeast region close to the M31 giant stream (field S2), and an eastern portion of the halo in the direction of the galaxy minor axis (field H1). The stream field spans a region that includes Andromeda's disk and the giant stream, and this is reflected in the complexity of the color magnitude diagram of the field. One corner of the halo field also includes a portion of the giant stream. Even though these demonstration time data were obtained under non-optimal observing conditions the B photometry, acquired in time-series mode, allowed us to identify 274 variable stars (among which 96 are bona fide and 31 are candidate RR Lyrae stars, 71 are Cepheids, and 16 are binary systems) by applying the image subtraction technique to selected portions of the observed fields. Differential flux light curves were obtained for the vast majority of these variables. Our sample includes mainly pulsating stars which populate the instability strip from the Classical Cepheids down to the RR Lyrae stars, thus tracing the different stellar generations in these regions of M31 down to the horizontal branch of the oldest (t ~ 10 Gyr) component.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

HST/ACS colour-magnitude diagrams of M31 globular clusters

With the aim of increasing the sample of M31 clusters for which a colour magnitude diagram is available, we searched the HST archive for ACS images containing objects included in the Revised Bologna Catalogue of M31 globular clusters. Sixty-three such objects were found. We used the ACS images to confirm or revise their classification and we obtained useful CMDs for 11 old globular clusters and 6 luminous young clusters. We obtained simultaneous estimates of the distance, reddening, and metallicity of old clusters by comparing their observed field-decontaminated CMDs with a grid of template clusters of the Milky Way. We estimated the age of the young clusters by fitting with theoretical isochrones. For the old clusters, we found metallicities in the range -0.4<=[Fe/H]<=-1.9, that generally agree with existing spectroscopic extimates. At least four of them display a clear blue HB, indicating ages >10 Gyr. All six candidate young clusters are found to have ages <1Gyr. With the present work the total number of M31 GCs with reliable optical CMD increases from 35 to 44 for the old clusters, and from 7 to 11 for the young ones. The old clusters show similar characteristics to those of the MW. We discuss the case of the cluster B407, with a metallicity [Fe/H] ~-0.6 and located at a large projected distance from the centre of M31 and from the galaxy major axis. Metal-rich globulars at large galactocentric distances are rare both in M31 and in the MW. B407, in addition, has a velocity in stark contrast with the rotation pattern shared by the bulk of M31 clusters of similar metallicity. This, along with other empirical evidence, supports the hypothesis that the cluster is physically associated with a substructure in the M31 halo that has been interpreted as the relic of a merging event.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Variable Star Population of the Globular Cluster B514 in the Andromeda Galaxy

A rich harvest of RR Lyrae stars has been identified for the first time in B514, a metal-poor ([Fe/H] = 1.95 +/- 0.10 dex) globular cluster of the Andromeda galaxy (M31), based on Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and Advanced Camera for Surveys time-series observations. We have detected and derived periods for 89 RR Lyrae stars (82 fundamental-mode -RRab- and 7 first-overtone -RRc- pulsators, respectively) among 161 candidate variables identified in the cluster. The average period of the RR Lyrae variables ( = 0.58 days and = 0.35 days, for RRab and RRc pulsators, respectively) and the position in the period-amplitude diagram both suggest that B514 is likely an Oosterhoff type I cluster. This appears to be in disagreement with the general behaviour of the metal-poor globular clusters in the Milky Way, which show instead Oosterhoff type II pulsation properties. The average apparent magnitude of the RR Lyrae stars sets the mean level of the cluster horizontal branch at = 25.18 +/- 0.02 (sigma=0.16 mag, on 81 stars). By adopting a reddening E(B-V) = 0.07 +/- 0.02 mag, the above metallicity and M_V=0.44 +/- 0.05 mag for the RR Lyrae variables of this metallicity, we derive a distance modulus of mu_0=24.52 +/- 0.08 mag, corresponding to a distance of about 800 +/- 30 kpc, based on a value of M_V that sets mu_0(LMC)=18.52.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

The promise of Gaia and how it will influence stellar ages

The Gaia space project, planned for launch in 2011, is one of the ESA cornerstone missions, and will provide astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic data of very high quality for about one billion stars brighter than V=20. This will allow to reach an unprecedented level of information and knowledge on several of the most fundamental astrophysical issues, such as mapping of the Milky Way, stellar physics (classification and parameterization), Galactic kinematics and dynamics, study of the resolved stellar populations in the Local Group, distance scale and age of the Universe, dark matter distribution (potential tracers), reference frame (quasars, astrometry), planet detection, fundamental physics, Solar physics, Solar system science. I will present a description of the instrument and its main characteristics, and discuss a few specific science cases where Gaia data promise to contribute fundamental improvement within the scope of this Symposium.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Star-to-star Na and O abundance variations along the red giant branch in NGC 2808

We report for the first time Na and O abundances from high-resolution, high S/N echelle spectra of 20 red giants in NGC 2808, taken as part of the Science Verification program of the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph at the ESO VLT. In these stars, spanning about 3 mag from the red giant branch (RGB) tip, large variations are detected in the abundances of oxygen and sodium, anticorrelated with each other; this is a well known evidence of proton-capture reactions at high temperatures in the ON and NeNa cycles. One star appears super O-poor; if the extension of the Na-O anticorrelation is confirmed, NGC 2808 might reach O depletion levels as large as those of M 13. This result confirms our previous findings based on lower resolution spectra (Carretta et al. 2003) of a large star-to-star scatter in proton capture elements at all positions along the RGB in NGC 2808, with no significant evolutionary contribution. Finally, the average metallicity for NGC 2808 is [Fe/H]= -1.14 +/- 0.01 dex (rms=0.06) from 19 stars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Proton capture elements in the globular cluster NGC 2808 I. First detection of large variations in Sodium abundances along the Red Giant Branch

We have used spectra obtained as part of the Science Verification program of the FLAMES multi-object spectrograph mounted on Kueyen (VLT-UT2) to perform an abundance analysis of stars along the giant branch (RGB) in the globular cluster NGC 2808. Sodium abundances are derived from Na D lines for a sample of 81 cluster stars spanning a range of about 2 magnitudes from the tip of the RGB. Our results show that a large star-to-star scatter does exist at all positions along the RGB, suggesting large variations in the abundance of proton capture elements down to luminosities comparable to the red horizontal branch (HB). The distribution of Na abundances along the RGB seems to point out that in this cluster most of the observed spread has a primordial origin. Overimposed evolutionary effects, if any, must be only at ``noise'' level, at odds with results from a similar analysis in M 13 (Pilachowski et al. 1996). This study is a first step towards ascertaining if a link exists between the distribution of chemical anomalies in light elements along the RGB and the global properties of globular clusters, in particular the HB morphology.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Globular Cluster Distances from RR Lyrae Stars

The most common methods to derive the distance to globular clusters using RR Lyrae variables are reviewed, with a special attention to those that have experienced significant improvement in the past few years. From the weighted average of these most recent determinations the absolute magnitude of the RR Lyrae stars at [Fe/H]=-1.5 is Mv = 0.59 +/- 0.03 mag, corresponding to a distance modulus for the LMC (m-M)o = 18.48 +/- 0.05.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

VLT spectroscopy of globular clusters in the Sombrero galaxy

We have obtained intermediate-resolution VLT spectroscopy of 75 globular cluster candidates around the Sa galaxy M104 (NGC4594). Fifty-seven candidates out to ~ 40 kpc in the halo of the galaxy were confirmed to be bona-fide globular clusters, 27 of which are new. A first analysis of the velocities provides only marginal evidence for rotation of the cluster system. From Hbeta line strengths, almost all of the clusters in our sample have ages that are consistent, within the errors, with Milky Way globular clusters. Only a few clusters may be 1-2 Gyr old, and bulge and halo clusters appear coeval. The absorption line indices follow the correlations established for the Milky Way clusters. Metallicities are derived based upon new empirical calibrations with Galactic globular clusters taking into account the non-linear behavior of some indices (e.g., Mg2). Our sample of globular clusters in NGC4594 spans a metallicity range of -2.13 < [Fe/H] < +0.26 dex, and the median metallicity of the system is [Fe/H] = -0.85. Thus, our data provide evidence that some of the clusters have super-solar metallicity. Overall, the abundance distribution of the cluster system is consistent with a bimodal distribution with peaks at [Fe/H] ~- 1.7 and -0.7. However, the radial change in the metallicity distribution of clusters may not be straightforwardly explained by a varying mixture of two sub-populations of red and blue clusters.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Wide field photometry of the M104 globular cluster system

We present preliminary results of a wide field study of the globular cluster system of NGC4594, the Sombrero galaxy. The galaxy was observed in B, V, and R using the Wide Field Imager on the ESO 2.2m telescope. Using color and shape criteria to select a sample of highly probable globular cluster candidates, we measured the radial density profile of clusters out to 40' (100 Kpc) in the galaxy halo. The colors are consistent with the bimodal color distribution observed in previous studies. The red cluster candidates show a clear central concentration relative to the blue clusters. The population of red clusters does not appear significantly flattened, thus indicating that they are associated to the galaxy bulge rather than to the disk.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

The RR Lyrae variables in M54 and the Sgr dwarf galaxy

We report on new B, V and I CCD photometry of the globular cluster M54 that was aimed at the study of its variable stars. With respect to the previous most recent work on M54 we have nearly doubled the number of detected variable stars: M54 can now be classified as intermediate in the Oosterhoff groups. The metallicity distribution for the cluster and the Sgr dSph field is obtained from the red giant stellar population, and for the variables.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Revised Baade-Wesselink Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars

We have applied the Baade-Wesselink method to two field RR Lyrae stars, i.e. SW And and RR Cet, and derived their distances and physical parameters. With respect to previous B-W analyses we have applied the following improvements: a) use of all sets of available data, after proper comparison for homogeneity and compatibility; b) use of the most recent and accurate model atmospheres, with turbulent velocity V(turb) = 4 km/s and the no-overshooting approximation, and comparison with other treatments of convection; c) use of the instantaneous gravity along the pulsation cycle rather than the mean value; d) comparison with modified radial velocity curves according to various assumptions on radial velocity gradients in the atmosphere; and e) careful reanalysis of the temperature scale. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the above items on the B-W results and verify whether any (or a combination) of them can possibly account for the discrepancy of the absolute magnitude zero-point with respect to other independent determinations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1997

HST UV Observations of the Cores of M3 and M13

We present preliminary results from HST/WFPC2 observations of the central regions of the of the Galactic globular clusters M13 and M3. The clusters are almost identical in most respects including chemical composition, but there are dramatic differences in both the horizontal branch (HB) and blue straggler (BSS) populations. The M13 HB has a long blue tail extending 4.5 mag in V, reaching well below the level of the main sequence turn-off. M3 has no such feature. M3 and M13 are thus an extreme case of the ``second parameter problem'' in HB morphology. Also present in the M13 HB are two gaps similar to those seen in the clusters NGC 6752 and NGC 2808. M3 has a specific frequency of BSS three times larger than that of M13. Our results imply that neither age nor cluster density, two popular second parameter candidates, are likely to be responsible for the observed differences.

astro-ph↗