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Nasser M. Ahmed

Publications and source records attributed to Nasser M. Ahmed.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

The Comprehensive Investigations of the NGC 7419 Open Cluster and the New Perspective on Mass Populations

We present a structural, kinematic, and photometric analysis of the young, red supergiant- and Be star-rich open cluster NGC 7419 using Gaia DR3 and 2MASS data. Using the HDBSCAN algorithm and conservative membership criteria, we identify 734 high-probability cluster members, separating the cluster from the dense Perseus Arm background. Isochrone fitting to the Gaia DR3 color-magnitude diagram, treating classical Be stars separately to account for their circumstellar excess, yields an age of 15 +/- 2 Myr, a distance of 3161 +/- 261 pc, a distance modulus of 12.50 +/- 0.08 mag, and a color excess E(GBP-GRP) = 2.58 +/- 0.06 mag. An independent 2MASS analysis gives a consistent distance modulus of 12.53 mag and E(J-Ks) = 0.99 mag. The Be stars show a prominent infrared excess in J-Ks, consistent with free-free and bound-free emission from circumstellar disks. We derive mean proper motions of -2.738 +/- 0.115 and -1.604 +/- 0.149 mas yr^-1 and a mean parallax of 0.288 +/- 0.062 mas, corresponding to a trigonometric distance of 3316 +/- 317 pc. The photometric distance is adopted as the primary estimate. A generalized King profile gives a core radius of 1.53 +/- 0.08 arcmin and a limiting radius of 8.16 +/- 1.1 arcmin. The stellar mass distribution is best described by a three-component Gaussian model, which we interpret as three distinct mass populations. Their coexistence and incomplete mixing are consistent with the young dynamical state of NGC 7419. Hierarchical formation provides a plausible framework for their origin.

astro-ph.GA↗

Detailed Analysis of the NGC 2168 Cluster, Leveraging Gaia DR3

NGC 2168 (M35) serves as a fundamental benchmark for studying stellar evolution and dynamical environments at the transition between young and intermediate-age populations. We present a comprehensive analysis of the cluster's kinematic, structural, and astrophysical properties utilizing high-precision astrometry and photometry data from Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3), complemented by 2MASS data. A statistical membership assessment yields a clean sample of probable members (N ~ 1397), with mean proper motion components of mu_alpha cos(delta) = 2.278 +/- 0.006 mas/yr and mu_delta = -2.893 +/- 0.006 mas/yr, along with a mean trigonometric parallax of varpi = 1.154 +/- 0.052 mas. We derived the cluster's fundamental parameters via isochrone fitting, determining an age of 190 +/- 12 Myr, a metallicity of [M/H] = -0.048 dex, and a probabilistic distance of 840 +/- 54 pc. The radial density profile is well described by a generalized King model with beta = 1 (rc = 7.97', rcl = 36.69'), revealing the presence of a loosely bound, extended stellar halo. Furthermore, we detect a spatial elongation oriented perpendicular to the Galactic plane, likely a signature of vertical tidal heating or disk shocking. The mass function analysis exhibits a multimodal Gaussian structure, suggesting a complex dynamical formation history beyond a simple power-law distribution. Finally, orbital integration confirms NGC 2168 as a thin disk object with a maximum vertical excursion of ~171 pc, consistent with the observed vertical morphological deformation.

astro-ph.GA↗

Discovery of a new open cluster as a companion to Czernik 38 cluster and its associated complex tide, using Gaia DR3

We utilize Gaia DR3 data to report the discovery of a new star cluster, Nasser 1, located 32 arcmin from Czernik 38 at coordinates $α= 282.11 \pm 0.05$ and $δ= 4.56 \pm 0.05$. Using a variable membership probability threshold technique with pyUPMASK, we confirm Nasser 1 as a genuine open cluster. It exhibits a distinct King profile and a well-defined CMD with an age of $125.0 \pm 12.30$ Myr, a distance modulus of $12.87 \pm 0.21$ mag, and a color excess of $2.42 \pm 0.09$. Nasser 1 shares consistent physical parameters (age, distance, kinematics, and reddening) with Czernik 38, suggesting they constitute a young primordial binary system in the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm. Both clusters display elongations indicative of differential rotation tides; Nasser 1 is additionally perturbed by the spiral arm's gravitational field. Gaussian mass function analysis suggests the two were formerly a single cluster, violently torn apart by differential rotation.

astro-ph.GA↗

Multi-parameter study for a new Ground-Based telescope in Egypt

A multi-parameter analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of meteorological parameters, night sky brightness and seismic hazard on proposed sites for the new optical/infrared Egyptian astronomical telescope. The ERA5 reanalysis data set is used to get the following meteorological parameters: Total cloud coverage fraction, precipitable water vapor, relative humidity, wind speed & direction and Air temperature. To estimate the aerosol optical depth we used the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications version 2 (MERRA-2). Light pollution over the candidate sites was measured from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day Night Band (DNB). The seismic input in terms of maximum acceleration and response spectra were computed using a physics-based ground motion approach to assess the seismic hazards and consequently the designation of seismic resistant structure for the proposed sites to be able to assess the seismic hazards for the candidate sites. Of the seven nominated sites, two sites are found to have the best measurements and might be considered future sites for the new Egyptian Astronomical telescope. The first site is located in the south of the Sinai peninsula, while the second one is located in the Red Sea mountains region.

astro-ph.IM↗