We present results of a large-scale, multi-epoch optical survey of the Orion OB1 association, carried out with the QUEST camera at the Venezuela National Astronomical Observatory (CIDA). We identify for the first time the widely spread low-mass, young population in the Ori OB1a and OB1b subassociations. Candidate members were picked up by their variability in the V band and position in color-magnitude diagrams. We obtained spectra to confirm membership. In a region spanning ~68{deg}^2^, we found 197 new young stars; of these, 56 are located in the Ori OB1a subassociation and 141 in Ori OB1b.
New star clusters discovered in the GLIMPSE survey
Short Name:
J/ApJ/635/560
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
A systematic and automated search of the extensive GLIMPSE (Galactic Legacy Infrared Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire) mid-infrared survey data of the inner Galaxy was carried out to uncover new star clusters. This search has yielded 59 new clusters. Using our automated search algorithm, these clusters were identified as significant localized overdensities in the GLIMPSE point-source catalog (GLMC) and archive (GLMA). Subsequent visual inspection of the GLIMPSE image mosaics confirmed the existence of these clusters plus an additional 33 heavily embedded clusters missed by our detection algorithm, for a total of 92 newly discovered clusters.
In this work we present the detection of 33 star clusters and 51 candidates in one field of the near by galaxy M 33. This study is based on WFC/ACS images available from the HST archive. Thanks to the high resolving power, we were able to confirm that two candidates previously indicated by Christian & Schommer (1982ApJS...49..405C) are indeed star clusters. We list the main properties for the star clusters (and candidates), along with some peculiar objects, such as background galaxies and possible HII regions.
The Magellanic System (MS) encompasses the nearest neighbors of the Milky Way, the Large (LMC) and Small (SMC) Magellanic Clouds, and the Magellanic Bridge (MBR). This system contains a diverse sample of star clusters. Their parameters, such as the spatial distribution, chemical composition and age distribution yield important information about the formation scenario of the whole Magellanic System. Using deep photometric maps compiled in the fourth phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE-IV) we present the most complete catalog of star clusters in the Magellanic System ever constructed from homogeneous, long time-scale photometric data. In this second paper of the series, we show the collection of star clusters found in the area of about 360 square degrees in the MBR and in the outer regions of the SMC. Our sample contains 198 visually identified star cluster candidates, 75 of which were not listed in any of the previously published catalogs. The new discoveries are mainly young small open clusters or clusters similar to associations.
To improve the census of the Upper Sco association (~11 Myr, ~145 pc), we have identified candidate members using parallaxes, proper motions, and color-magnitude diagrams from several wide-field imaging surveys and have obtained optical and infrared spectra of several hundred candidates to measure their spectral types and assess their membership. We also have performed spectroscopy on a smaller sample of previously known or suspected members to refine their spectral types and evidence of membership. We have classified 530 targets as members of Upper Sco, 377 of which lack previous spectroscopy. Our new compilation of all known members of the association contains 1631 objects. Although the census of Upper Sco has expanded significantly over the last decade, there remain hundreds of candidates that lack spectroscopy. The precise parallaxes and proper motions from the second data release of Gaia should extend down to substellar masses in Upper Sco, which will greatly facilitate the identification of the undiscovered members.
The Ks-band image which was used for the 3{sigma}-detection was obtained with ISAAC on VLT-ANTU as part of programme 65.N-0577, and has a FWHM of ~0.38". 1072 point-like objects were detected. For the multi-band photometry, we also used the HST archival images obtained by Whitmore et al. (see Whitmore et al., 1999AJ....118.1551W), which we rebinned to the same pixel size as the ISAAC image (0.1484"/pix). The CO narrow band image was also obtained with ISAAC, while the Br{gamma} image was obtained with SOFI at the NTT (programme number 63.N-0528). The Br{gamma} image had a lower image quality than the other two images (FWHM=0.7"). The photometry data were used to simultaneously fit age and extinction for each individual cluster in comparison to an evolutionary synthesis model. Where possible, the visual extinction was determined from an average of the extinction from the broadband fit and from the Hydrogen recombination line ratios (in comparison to the expected Case B line ratio). The age estimate from the fit was, where possible, averaged with the aged determined from equivalent widths and CO index.
We present the analysis of the stellar content of NGC 2282, a young cluster in the Monoceros constellation, using deep optical BVI and INT Photometric H{alpha} Survey (IPHAS) photometry along with infrared (IR) data from UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey and Spitzer-IRAC. Based on the stellar surface density analysis using nearest neighbourhood method, the radius of the cluster is estimated as ~3.15-arcmin. From optical spectroscopic analysis of eight bright sources, we have classified three early B-type members in the cluster, which includes, HD 289120, a previously known B2V-type star, a Herbig Ae/Be star (B0.5 Ve) and a B5 V star. From spectrophotometric analyses, the distance to the cluster has been estimated as ~1.65kpc. The K-band extinction map is estimated using nearest neighbourhood technique, and the mean extinction within the cluster area is found to be A_V_~3.9mag. Using IR colour-colour criteria and H{alpha}-emission properties, we have identified a total of 152 candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) in the region, of which, 75 are classified as Class II, nine are Class I YSOs. Our YSO catalogue also includes 50 H{alpha}-emission line sources, identified using slitless spectroscopy and IPHAS photometry data. Based on the optical and near-IR colour-magnitude diagram analyses, the cluster age has been estimated to be in the range of 2-5Myr, which is in agreement with the estimated age from disc fraction (~58 per cent). Masses of these YSOs are found to be ~0.1-2.0M_{sun}_. Spatial distribution of the candidate YSOs shows spherical morphology, more or less similar to the surface density map.
We use Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Faint Object Camera (FOC) ultraviolet (UV) and WFPC2 optical images in conjunction with UV spectroscopic observations taken with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph to examine the star formation history and properties of the interacting galaxy system NGC 1741 in the Hickson Compact Group 31. The high spatial resolution afforded by HST has allowed us to identify a large number of starburst knots, or "superstar clusters" (SSCs), in the starburst regions of this system. Photometry of these SSCs in the UV and optical bands indicates that most of these objects have ages of a few Myr, with a few up to ~100Myr, and masses between 10^4^ and 10^6^M_{sun}_. The estimated age is confirmed by a spectral synthesis analysis of one knot for which we have obtained a UV spectrum. The V-band luminosity function of the SSCs is well represented by a power law {Phi}(L)~L^-{alpha}^ with an index of -1.85, with no evidence of a turnover brighter than the completeness limit. These properties are in good agreement with those found for SSCs in other starburst galaxies. Our results support the suggestion that some of these SSCs may be extremely young globular clusters formed in a relatively recent starburst episode that has been triggered by a merger event.
Using high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope data, we re-examine the fundamental properties (ages, masses and extinction values) of the rich star cluster population in the dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 5253. The gain in resolution compared to previous studies is of order a factor of 2 in both spatial dimensions, while our accessible wavelength range transcends previous studies by incorporation of both near-ultraviolet and near-infrared (IR) passbands. We apply spectral synthesis treatments based on two different simple stellar population model suites to our set of medium-, broad-band and H{alpha} images to gain an improved physical understanding of the IR-excess flux found for a subset of young clusters (30 of 149). With the caveat that our models are based on fully sampled stellar mass functions, the NGC 5253 cluster population is dominated by a significant number of relatively low-mass (M_cl_<~ a few x10^4^M_{sun}_) objects with ages ranging from a few x10^6^ to a few x10^7^yr, which is in excellent agreement with the starburst age of the host galaxy. The IR-excess clusters are almost all found in this young age range and have masses of up to a few x10^4^M{sun}. The IR excess in the relatively low-mass NGC 5253 clusters is most likely caused by a combination of stochastic sampling effects and colour variations due to the presence of either luminous red or pre-main-sequence stars. We also find a small number of intermediate-age (~1Gyr old), ~10^5^M{sun} clusters, as well as up to a dozen massive, ~10Gyr old globular clusters. Their presence supports the notion that NGC 5253 is a very active galaxy that has undergone multiple episodes of star cluster formation.
We present new Chandra X-ray data of the NGC 1333 embedded cluster and combine these data with existing Chandra data, Spitzer photometry, and ground-based spectroscopy of both the NGC 1333 and Serpens cloud core clusters to perform a detailed study of the X-ray properties of two of the nearest embedded clusters to the Sun. We first present new, deeper observations of NGC 1333 with Chandra ACIS-I and combine these with existing Spitzer observations of the region. In NGC 1333, a total of 95 cluster members are detected in X-rays of which 54 were previously identified in the Spitzer data.