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Giovanni Carraro

Publications and source records attributed to Giovanni Carraro.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

A study of the two northern open clusters NGC 1582 and NGC 1663

We present CCD $UBV(I)_C$ observations obtained in the field of the previously unstudied northern open clusters NGC 1582 and NGC 1663. For the former, we also provide high-resolution spectra of the brightest stars and complement our data with Two-Micron All-Sky-Survey (2MASS) near-infrared photometry and with astrometric data from the Tycho-2 catalog. From the analysis of all these data, we argue that NGC 1582 is a very poor, quite large and heavily contaminated open cluster. It turns out to have a reddening $E_{B-V} = 0.35 \pm 0.03$, to be situated $1100 \pm 100$ pc from the Sun and to have an age of $300 \pm 100$ Myr. On the other hand, we were not able to unambiguously clarify the nature of NGC 1663. By assuming it is a real cluster and from the analysis of its photometric diagrams, we found a color excess value $E_{B-V} = 0.20$, an intermediate age value ($\sim 2000$ Myr) and a distance of about 700 pc. The distribution of the stars in the region however suggests we are probably facing an open cluster remnant. As an additional result, we obtained aperture photometry of three previously unclassified galaxies placed in the field of NGC 1663 and performed a preliminary morphological classification of them.

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arXiv2003

NGC 1883: a neglected intermediate-age open cluster located in the outskirts of the Galactic disk

We report on $BVI$ CCD photometry of a field centered in the region of the open cluster NGC 1883 down to V=21. This cluster has never been studied insofar, and we provide for the first time estimates of its fundamental parameters, namely radial extent, age, distance and reddening. We find that the cluster has a radius of about 2.5 arcmin, and shows signatures of dynamical relaxation. NGC 1883 is located in the anti-center direction, and exhibits a reddening in the range E$(B-V)= 0.23-0.35$, depending on the metal abundance. It turns out to be of intermediate-age (1 billion years old), and quite distant for an open cluster. In fact it is located 4.8 kpc from the Sun, and more than 13 kpc from the Galactic center. This results makes NGC 1883 one of the most peripheral old open clusters, with important consequences for the trend of the metallicity with distance in the outer Galactic disk.

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arXiv2003

Photometric study of the young open cluster NGC 3293

Deep and extensive CCD photometric observations $UBV(RI)_{C}H_α$ were carried out in the area of the open cluster NGC 3293. The new data set allows to see the entire cluster sequence down to $M_{V} \approx +4.5$, revealing that stars with $M_{V} < -2$ are evolving off the main sequence; stars with $-2 < M_{V} < +2$ are located on the main sequence and stars with $M_{V} > +2$ are placed above it. According to our analysis, the cluster distance is $d = 2750 \pm 250 pc$ ($V_{0}-M_{V} = 12.2 \pm 0.2$) and its nuclear age is $8 \pm 1 Myr$. NGC 3293 contains an important fraction of pre--main sequence (PMS) stars distributed along a parallel band to the ZAMS with masses from 1 to $2.5 \cal M_{\sun}$ and a mean contraction age of $10 Myr$. This last value does not differ too much from the nuclear age estimate. Actually, if we take into account the many factors that may affect the PMS star positions onto the colour--magnitude diagram, both ages can be perfectly reconciled. The star formation rate, on the other hand, suggests that NGC 3293 stars formed surely in one single event, therefore favouring a coeval process of star formation. Besides, using the $H_α$ data, we detected nineteen stars with signs of having $H_α$ emission in the region of NGC 3293, giving another indication that the star formation process is still active in the region. The computed initial mass function for the cluster has a slope value $x = 1.2 \pm 0.2$, a bit flatter than the typical slope for field stars and similar to the values found for other young open clusters.

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arXiv2002

Youn open clusters in the Carina region

We present results of a new investigation (Carraro et al. 2002) aimed at clarifying the mutual relationship between the most prominent young open clusters close to eta Carinae, namely Trumpler 16, Trumpler 14 and Collinder 232.

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arXiv2002

The intermediate-age open cluster NGC 2112

We report on $BVI$ CCD photometry of a field centered on the region of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 2112 down to V=21. Due to the smaller field coverage, we are able to limit the effect of field star contamination which hampered in the past precise determinations of the cluster age and distance. This way, we provide updated estimates of NGC 2112 fundamental parameters. Having extended the photometry to the $I$ pass-band, we are able to construct a colour-colour diagram, from which we infer a reddening $E_{B-V}= 0.63\pm0.14$ mag. The comparison of the Colour-Magnitude Diagram (CMD) with theoretical isochrones leads to a distance of $850 \pm 100$ pc, and an age of $2.0 \pm 0.3$ Gyr. While the distance is in agreement with previous determinations, the age turns out to be much better constrained and significantly lower than previous estimates.

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arXiv2002

A photometric study of the two poorly known northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348

We present CCD UBVI observations obtained in the field of the previously unstudied northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348. We argue that NGC 133 is a heavily contaminated cluster, for which we identify 13 candidate members down to $V$=14.50 mag on the basis of the position in the two-color Diagram . Membership has been checked against proper motions from Tycho~2, whenever available. The cluster turns out to have a reddening E$(B-V)=0.60\pm0.10$ mag, to be $630\pm150$ pc distant from the Sun, and to have an age less than 10 Myrs. NGC 1348 is a more reddened cluster (E$(B-V)=0.85\pm0.15$ mag) for which we isolate 20 members. The cluster lies at a distance of $1.9\pm0.5$ kpc away from the Sun, and has an age greater than 50 Myrs.

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arXiv2002

The intermediate-age open cluster NGC 2158

We report on $UBVRI$ CCD photometry of two overlapping fields in the region of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 2158 down to V=21. By analyzing Colour-Colour (CC) and Colour-Magnitude Diagrams (CMD) we infer a reddening $E_{B-V}= 0.55\pm0.10$, a distance of $3600 \pm 400$ pc, and an age of about 2 Gyr. Synthetic CMDs performed with these parameters (but fixing $E_{B-V}=0.60$ and $[{\rm Fe/H}]=-0.60$), and including binaries, field contamination, and photometric errors, allow a good description of the observed CMD. The elongated shape of the clump of red giants in the CMD is interpreted as resulting from a differential reddening of about $ΔE_{B-V}=0.06$ across the cluster, in the direction perpendicular to the Galactic plane. NGC 2158 turns out to be an intermediate-age open cluster with an anomalously low metal content. The combination of these parameters together with the analysis of the cluster orbit, suggests that the cluster belongs to the old thin disk population.

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arXiv2002

Photometry of dissolving star cluster candidates. The cases of NGC7036 and NGC7772

We present CCD UBVI observations obtained in the field of the two previously unstudied dissolving open cluster candidates NGC 7036 and NGC 7772. Our analysis suggests that both the objects are Open Cluster Remnants (OCR). NGC 7036 is an open cluster remnant with a core radius of about 3-4 arcmin. We derive for the first time estimates of its fundamental parameters. We identify 17 likely members which define a group of stars at 1 kpc from the Sun, with a low reddening E$(B-V) \approx 0.1$, and with an age of about 3-4 Gyr. As for NGC 7772, we identify 14 likely members, which define a group of stars with a very low reddening (E$(B-V) \approx 0.03$), 1.5 Gyr old and located about 1.5 kpc from the Sun.

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arXiv2001

A photometric investigation of the young open cluster Trumpler 15

In this paper we present and analyze new CCD $UBVRI$ photometry down to $V\approx$21 in the region of the young open cluster Trumpler~15, located in the Carina spiral feature. The cluster is rather compact and has a core radius of about 2$^{\prime}$, which translates in about 1 pc at the distance of the cluster. We provide the first CCD investigation and update its fundamental parameters. We identify 90 candidate photometric members on the base of the position in the color-color and color-magnitude diagrams. This sample allows us to obtain a distance of 2.4$\pm$0.3 kpc from the Sun and a reddening E$(B-V)$=0.52$\pm0.07$. We confirm that the cluster is young, and fix a upper limit of 6 million yrs to its age . In addition, we draw the attention on the lower part of the Main Sequence (MS) suggesting that some stars can be in contracting phase and on a gap in the MS, that we show to be a real feature, the $B1-B5$ gap found in other young open clusters. We finally study in details the extinction toward Trumpler~15 concluding that it is normal and suggesting a value of 2.89$\pm$0.19 for the ratio of total to selective absorption $R_V$.\

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arXiv2001

Star clusterings in the Carina complex: UBVRI photometry of Bochum 9, 10 and 11

We report on the first UBVRI CCD photometry of three poorly known star clusterings in the region of Eta Carinae: Bochum9, Bochum10 and Bochum11. We found that they are young, rather poor and loose open clusters. We argue that Bochum9 is probably a small and loose cluster with about 30 probable members having E(B-V)=0.63, located 4.6 kpc far from the Sun, beyond the Carina spiral arm. Similarly, Bochum10 is a sparse aggregate with 14 probable members having E(B-V)=0.47 and at a distance of 2.7 kpc from the Sun. Finally, Bochum11 is a less than 4x10^6 yrs old cluster for which we identify 24 members. It has a reddening E(B-V)=0.58, and lies between Bochum10 and 9, at 3.5 kpc from the Sun. We propose that in the field of the cluster some stars might be pre Main Sequence (MS) candidates.

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arXiv2001

Multicolor Photometry of the Uranus Irregular Satellites Sycorax and Caliban

We report on accurate BVRI photometry for the two Uranus irregular satellites Sycorax and Caliban. We derive colours, showing that Sycorax is bluer than Caliban. Our data allows us to detect a significant variability in the Caliban's light-curve, which suggests an estimated period of about 3 hours. Despite it is the brighter of the two bodies, Sycorax does not display a strong statistically significant variability. However our data seem to suggest a period of about 4 hours

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arXiv2000

The Dark and Luminous Matter coupling in the formation of spheroids: a SPH investigation

Using N-body/hydrodynamical simulations which include prescriptions for Star Formation, Feed-Back and Chemical Evolution, we explore the interaction between baryons and Dark Matter at galactic scale. The N-body simulations are performed using a Tree-SPH code that follows the evolution of individual DM halos inside which stars form from cooling gas, and evolve delivering in the interstellar medium mass, metals, and energy. We examine the formation and evolution of a giant and a dwarf elliptical galaxy of total mass 10^12 and 10^9 solar masses, respectively. Starting from an initial density profile like the universal Navarro profile in the inner region, baryons sink towards the center due to cooling energy losses. At the end of the collapse, the innermost part (1/20 of the halo size) of the galaxy is baryon-dominated, whereas the outer regions are DM dominated. The Star Formation proceeds at much faster speed in the giant galaxy where a spheroid of 8 \times 10^10 solar masses is formed in 2 Gyr, with respect to the dwarf galaxy where the spheroid of 2 \times 10^7 solar masses is formed in 4 Gyr. For the two objects the final distribution of stars is well fitted by a Hernquist profile with effective radii of r_e = 30 kpc, and 2.8 kpc, respectively. The dark-to-luminous tarnsition radius r_IBD occurs roughly at 1 r_e, as in real ellipticals. The DM halo density evolution is non-adiabatic and does not lead to a core radius.

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arXiv2000

On the formation and evolution of the globular cluster Omega Centauri

By means of N-body/hydrodynamical simulations we model the evolution of a primordial 10^{8} solar masses density peak which ends up in an object closely resembling the present day globular cluster Omega Centauri. We succeed to reproduce the main features of the cluster, namely the structure, kinematics and metallicity distribution. We suggest that Omega Centauri might be a cosmological dwarf elliptical, formed at high redshift, evolved in isolation and self-enriched, and eventually fallen inside the potential well of the Milky Way, in agreement with the Searle-Zinn (1978) paradigm for galactic globular clusters formation. We finally suggest that Omega Centauri is probably surrounded by an extended Dark Matter (DM) halo, for which no observational evidence is at present available. We expect that signatures, if any, of the DM halo can be found in the kinematics of stars outside about 20 arcmin.

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arXiv2000

NGC 6994: an open cluster which is not an open cluster

We report on CCD photometry in the Johnson B,V and I passbands for 146 stars in a 9' \times 9' region around the southern aggregate NGC 6994 (C 2056-128), which appears in the Lynga (1987) catalogue of open star clusters. We argue that this object is not really an open cluster, but simply a random enhancement of four bright stars above the background level. This stars sample includes HD 358033 and GSC 05778-0082, together with M 73, which is referred to as a binary star, but actually represents the whole asterism. Since NGC 6994 is not the first case (see for instance Carraro and Patat 1995), this raises the possibility that other open clusters may have been misclassified. We also suggest that NGC 6994 is unlikely to be an open cluster remnant (OCR).

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arXiv1999

The elusive old population of the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I

We report the discovery of a significant old population in the dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy Leo I as a result of a wide-area search with the ESO New Technology Telescope. Studies of the stellar content of Local Group dwarf galaxies have shown the presence of an old stellar population in almost all of the dwarf spheroidals. The only exception was Leo I, which alone appeared to have delayed its initial star formation episode until just a few Gyr ago. The color-magnitude diagram of Leo I now reveals an extended horizontal branch, unambiguously indicating the presence of an old, metal-poor population in the outer regions of this galaxy. Yet we find little evidence for a stellar population gradient, at least outside R > 2' (0.16 kpc), since the old horizontal branch stars of Leo I are radially distributed as their more numerous intermediate-age helium-burning counterparts. The discovery of a definitely old population in the predominantly young dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo I points to a sharply defined first epoch of star formation common to all of the Local Group dSph's as well as to the halo of the Milky Way.

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arXiv1999

A Parallel Tree-SPH code for Galaxy Formation

We describe a new implementation of a parallel Tree-SPH code with the aim to simulate Galaxy Formation and Evolution. The code has been parallelized using SHMEM, a Cray proprietary library to handle communications between the 256 processors of the Silicon Graphics T3E massively parallel supercomputer hosted by the Cineca Supercomputing Center (Bologna, Italy). The code combines the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method to solve hydro-dynamical equations with the popular Barnes and Hut (1986) tree-code to perform gravity calculation with a NlogN scaling, and it is based on the scalar Tree-SPH code developed by Carraro et al(1998)[MNRAS 297, 1021]. Parallelization is achieved distributing particles along processors according to a work-load criterion. Benchmarks, in terms of load-balance and scalability, of the code are analyzed and critically discussed against the adiabatic collapse of an isothermal gas sphere test using 20,000 particles on 8 processors. The code results balanced at more that 95% level. Increasing the number of processors, the load-balance slightly worsens. The deviation from perfect scalability at increasing number of processors is almost negligible up to 32 processors. Finally we present a simulation of the formation of an X-ray galaxy cluster in a flat cold dark matter cosmology, using 200,000 particles and 32 processors, and compare our results with Evrard (1988) P3M-SPH simulations. Additionaly we have incorporated radiative cooling, star formation, feed-back from SNae of type II and Ia, stellar winds and UV flux from massive stars, and an algorithm to follow the chemical enrichment of the inter-stellar medium. Simulations with some of these ingredients are also presented.

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arXiv1999

A photometric study of the intermediate age open cluster King 5

We report on near IR (J and K bands) observations of an $8^{\prime} \times 8^{\prime}$ region centered on the poorly studied open cluster King 5, for which only optical photometry existed. We found that the cluster is of moderate age (1.0 Gry old), intermediate in age between the Hyades and NGC 752. Combining optical and IR photometry we obtain estimates for cluster parameters. The color excess E(J-K), E(V-I) and E(V-K) are 0.50, 1.10 and 2.45, respectively. The true distance modulus turns out to be $(m-M)_0) = 11.40\pm 0.15$. As a consequence, King 5 is 1.9 kpc far from the Sun.

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