Variable Stars in the 50BiN Open Cluster Survey.Ⅲ.NGC 884

Open clusters are the basic building blocks that serve as a laboratory for the study of young stellar populations in the Milky Way.Variable stars in open clusters provide a unique way to accurately probe the internal structure,temporal and dynamical evolutionary stages of individual stars and the host cluster.The most powerful tool for such studies is time-domain photometric observations.This paper follows the route of our previous work,concentrating on a photometric search for variable stars in NGC 884.The target cluster is the companion of NGC869,forming the well-known double cluster system that is gravitationally bound.From the observation run in 2016 November,a total of 9247 B-band CCD images and 8218Ⅴ-band CCD images were obtained.We detected a total of 15 stars with variability in visual brightness,including five Be stars,three eclipsing binaries,and seven of unknown types.Two new variable stars were discovered in this work.We also compared the variable star content of NGC 884 with its companion NGC 869.

BSEC Method for Unveiling Open Clusters and its Application to Gaia DR3:83 New Clusters

Open clusters(OCs) are common in the Milky Way, but most of them remain undiscovered. There are numerous techniques, including some machine-learning algorithms, available for the exploration of OCs. However, each method has its limitations and therefore, different approaches to discovering OCs hold significant values. We develop a comprehensive approach method to automatically explore the data space and identify potential OC candidates with relatively reliable membership determination. This approach combines the techniques of Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise, Gaussian mixture model, and a novel cluster member identification technique, color excess constraint. The new method exhibits efficiency in detecting OCs while ensuring precise determination of cluster memberships. Because the main feature of this technique is to add an extra constraint(EC) for the members of cluster candidates using the homogeneity of color excess,compared to typical blind search codes, it is called Blind Search-Extra Constraint(BSEC) method. It is successfully applied to the Gaia Data Release 3, and 83 new OCs are found, whose color–magnitude diagrams(CMDs) are fitted well to the isochrones. In addition, this study reports 621 new OC candidates with discernible main sequence or red giant branch. It is shown that BSEC technique can discard some false negatives of previous works, which takes about three percentage of known clusters. It shows that as an EC, the color excess(or twocolor) constraint is useful for removing fake cluster member stars from the clusters that are identified from the positions and proper motions of stars, and getting more precise CMDs, when differential reddening of member stars of a cluster is not large(e.g., ΔE(G_(BP)-G_(RP)) < 0.5 mag). It makes the CMDs of 15% clusters clearer(in particular for the region near turnoff) and therefore is helpful for CMD and stellar population studies. Our result suggests that the color excess constraint is more appropriate for clusters with small differential reddening, such as globular clusters or older OCs, and clusters that the distances of member stars cannot be determined accurately.

Study of 26 Galactic Open Clusters with Extended Main-sequence Turnoffs

Recent studies indicate that some Galactic open clusters(OCs)exhibit extended main-sequence turnoff(eMSTO)in their color–magnitude diagrams(CMDs).However,the number of Galactic OCs with eMSTO structures detected so far is limited,and the reasons for their formation are still unclear.This work identifies 26 Galactic OCs with undiscovered eMSTOs and investigates the causes of these features.Stellar population types and fundamental parameters of cluster samples are acquired using CMD fitting methods.Among them,the results of 11 OCs are reliable as the observed CMDs are well-reproduced.We propose the crucial role of stellar binarity and confirm the importance of stellar rotation in reproducing eMSTO morphologies.The results also show that the impact of age spread is important,as it can adequately explain the structure of young OCs and fit the observed CMDs of intermediate-age OCs better.

Kinematics of the Open Cluster System in the Galaxy

Absolute proper motions and radial velocities of 202 open clusters in the solar neighborhood, which can be used as tracers of the Galactic disk, are used to investigate the kinematics of the Galaxy in the solar vicinity, including the mean heliocentric velocity components （u1, u2, u3） of the open cluster system, the characteristic velocity dispersions （σ1,σ2,σ3）, Oort constants （A, B） and the large-scale radial motion parameters （C, D） of the Galaxy. The results derived from the observational data of proper motions and radial velocities of a subgroup of 117 thin disk young open clusters by means of a maximum likelihood algorithm are： （u1,u2,u3） = （-16.1 ± 1.0,-7.9 ±1.4,-10.4±1.5） km·s^-1, （σ1,σ2,σ3） = （17.0±0.7, 12.2±0.9, 8.0±1.3） km·S^-1, （A, B） = （14.8±1.0, - 13.0±2.7） km·s^-1 kpc^-1, and （C, D） = （1.5 ± 0.7, -1.2 ±1.5） km·s^-1 kpc^-1. A discussion on the results and comparisons with what was obtained by other authors is given.

Variable Star Detection in the Field of Open Cluster NGC 188

This work presents the charge-coupled device(CCD)photometric survey of the old open cluster NGC 188.Timeseries V-band photometric observations were conducted for ten nights in 2017 January using the Nanshan Onemeter Wide-field Telescope to search for variable stars in the field of the cluster.A total of 25 variable stars,including one new variable star,were detected in the target field.Among the detected variables,16 are cluster member stars,and the others are identified as field stars.The periods,radial velocities,effective temperatures,and classifications of the detected variables are discussed in this work.Most of the stars’effective temperatures are between 4200 and 6600 K,indicating their spectral types are G or K.The newly discovered variable is probably a W UMa system.In this study,a known cluster variable star(V21=V0769 Cep)is classified as an EA-type variable star based on the presence of an 0.5 mag eclipse in its light curve.

Unveiling the Initial Conditions of Open Star Cluster Formation

Open clusters(OCs)are infrequent survivors of embedded clusters gestated in molecular clouds.Up to now,little is known about the initial conditions for the formation of OCs.Here,we studied this issue using high-precision astrometric parameters provided by Gaia data release 3.The statistics show that the peculiar motion velocities of OCs vary slightly from infancy to old age,providing a remarkable opportunity to use OCs to trace their progenitors.Adopting a dynamical method,we derived the masses of the progenitor clumps where OCs were born,which have statistical characteristics comparable to previously known results for clumps observed in the Galaxy.Moreover,the masses of the progenitor clumps of OCs indicate they should be capable of gestating massive O-type stars.In fact,after inspecting the observed OCs and O-type stars,we found that there are many O-type stars in OCs.The destructive stellar feedback from O-type stars may disintegrate the vast majority of embedded clusters,and only those sufficiently dense ones can survive as OCs.

A Fermi-LAT Study of Globular Cluster Dynamical Evolution in the Milky Way:Millisecond Pulsars as the Probe

Using archival Fermi-LAT data with a time span of~12 yr,we study the population of Millisecond Pulsars(MSPs)in Globular Clusters(GlCs)and investigate their dependence on cluster dynamical evolution in the Milky Way.We show that theγ-ray luminosity(L_(γ))and emissivity(i.e.,ε_(γ)=L_(γ)/M,with M the cluster mass)are good indicators of the population and abundance of MSPs in GlCs,and they are highly dependent on the dynamical evolution history of the host clusters.Specifically speaking,the dynamically older GlCs with more compact structures are more likely to have larger L_(γ)andε_(γ),and these trends can be summarized as strong correlations with cluster stellar encounter rateΓand the specific encounter rate(Λ=Γ/M),with L_(γ)∝Γ^(0.7±0.11)andε_(γ)∝Λ^(0.73±0.13)for dynamically normal GlCs.However,as GlCs evolve into deep core collapse,these trends are found to be reversed,implying that strong encounters may have lead to the disruption of Low-Mass X-ray Binaries and ejection of MSPs from core-collapsed systems.Besides,the GlCs are found to exhibit largerε_(γ)with increasing stellar mass function slope(ε_(γ)∝10^((0.52±0.1)α)),decreasing tidal radius(ε_(γ)∝R_(t)^(-10±0.22))and distances from the Galactic Center(GC,ε_(γ)∝R_(gc)^(-1.13±0.21)).These correlations indicate that,as GlCs losing kinetic energy and spiral in toward the GC,tidal stripping and mass segregation have a preference in leading to the loss of normal stars from GlCs,while MSPs are more likely to concentrate to cluster center and be deposited into the GC.Moreover,we gaugeε_(γ)of GlCs is~10-1000 times larger than the Galactic bulge,the latter is thought to reside thousands of unresolved MSPs and may be responsible for the GC 7-ray excess,which supports that GlCs are generous contributors to the population of MSPs in the GC.

Identifying Three New AGNs among Fermi Unidentified Gigaelectronvolt Sources

We report our identification of three gigaelectronvoltγ-ray sources,4FGL J0502.6+0036,4FGL J1055.9+6507,and 4FGL J1708.2+5519,as Active Galactic Nuclei(AGNs).They are listed in the latest Fermi-Large Area Telescope source catalog as unidentified ones.We find that the sources all showedγ-ray flux variations in recent years.Using different survey catalogs,we are able to find a radio source within the error circle of each source's position.Further analysis of optical sources in the fields allows us to determine the optical counterparts,which showed similar variation patterns to those seen inγ-rays.The optical counterparts have reported redshifts of 0.6,1.5,and 2.3,respectively,estimated from photometric measurements.In addition,we also obtain an X-ray spectrum of 4FGL J0502.6+0036 and a flux upper limit on the X-ray emission of 4FGL J1055.9+6507 by analyzing the archival data.The broadband spectral energy distributions of the three sources from radio toγ-rays are constructed.Comparing mainly theγ-ray properties of the three sources with those of different sub-classes of AGNs,we tentatively identify them as blazars.Followup optical spectroscopy is highly warranted for obtaining their spectral features and thus verifying the identification.

Revisit of GeV Gamma-Ray Emission from Orion B with the Fermi Large Area Telescope

We revisit the γ-ray emission above 300 Me V towards the massive star-forming region of Orion B by adopting14 yr observations with the Fermi Large Area Telescope and utilizing the updated software tools.The extended γ-ray emission region around Orion B is resolved into two components(region Ⅰ and region Ⅱ).The γ-ray spectrum of region I agrees with the predicted γ-ray spectrum assuming the cosmic ray(CR)density is the same as that of Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer(AMS-02)measured locally.Theγ-ray emissivity of region II appears to be deficit at low energy band(E<3 GeV).Through modeling we find that CR densities exhibit a significant deficit below 20 Ge V,which may be caused by a slow diffusion inside the dense region.This is probably caused by an increased magnetic field whose strength increases with the gas density.

Abundance Gradient from Open Clusters and Implications for the Galactic Disk Evolution

We compile a new sample of 89 open clusters with ages, distances and metallicities available. We derive a radial iron gradient of about -0.099±0.008 dex kpc^(-1) (unweighted) for the whole sample, which is somewhat greater than the most recent determination of oxygen gradient from nebulae and young stars. By dividing the clusters into age groups, we show that the iron gradient was steeper in the past and has evolved slowly in time. Current data show a substantial scatter of the cluster metallicities indicating that the Galactic disk has undergone a very rapid, inhomogeneous enrichment. Also, based on a simple, but quite successful model of chemical evolution of the Milky Way disk, we make a detailed calculation of the iron abundance gradient and its time evolution. The predicted current iron gradient is about -0.072 dex kpc^(-1). The model also predicts a steady flattening of the iron gradient with time, which agrees with the result from our open cluster sample.

Membership determination of open cluster NGC 188 based on the DBSCAN clustering algorithm

High-precision proper motions and radial velocities of 1046 stars are used to determine member stars using three-dimensional （3D） kinematics for open clus- ter NGC 188 based on the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise （DBSCAN） clustering algorithm. By implementing this algorithm, 472 member stars in the cluster are obtained with 3D kinematics. The color-magnitude diagram （CMD） of the 472 member stars using 3D kinematics shows a well-defined main sequence and a red giant branch, which indicate that the DBSCAN clustering algorithm is very effective for membership determination. The DBSCAN clustering algorithm can ef- fectively select probable member stars in 3D kinematic space without any assumption about the distribution of the cluster or field stars. Analysis results show that the CMD of member stars is significantly clearer than the one based on 2D kinematics, which al- lows us to better constrain the cluster members and estimate their physical parameters. Using the 472 member stars, the average absolute proper motion and radial velocity are determined to be （PMα, PMδ） = （-2.58 ± 0.22, ＋0.17 ± 0.18） mas yr-1 and Vr = -42.35 ± 0.05 km s-1, respectively. Our values are in good agreement with values derived by other authors.

Weak Elliptical Distortion of the Milky Way Potential traced by Open Clusters

From photometric observations and star counts, the existence of a bar in the central few kpc of the Galaxy is suggested. It is generally thought that our Galaxy is surrounded by a massive invisible halo. The gravitational potential of the Galaxy is therefore made nonaxisymmetric generated by the central triaxial bar, by the outer triaxial halo, and/or by the spiral structures. Selecting nearly 300 open clusters with complete spatial velocity measurements and ages, we were able to construct the rotation curve of the Milky Way within a range of 3 kpc of the Sun. Using a dynamic model for an assumed elliptical disk, a clear weak elliptical potential of the disk with ellipticity of ε（R0） = 0.060 4± 0.012 is detected, the Sun is found to be near the minor axis, displaced by 30°±3°. The motion of the clusters is suggested to be on an oval orbit rather than on a circular one.

Improved proper motion determinations for 15 open clusters based on the UCAC4 catalog

The proper motions of 15 nearby（d 〈 1 kpc） open clusters（OCs） were recalculated using data from the UCAC4 catalog. Only evolved or main sequence stars inside a certain radius from the center of the cluster were used. The results significantly differ from the ones presented by Dias et al.（2014）. This could be explained by a different approach in which we take the field star contamination into account. The present work aims to emphasize the importance of applying photometric criteria for the calculation of OC proper motions.

Preferred alignments of angular momentum vectors of galaxies in six dynamically unstable Abell clusters

A spatial orientation of angular momentum vectors of galaxies in six dynamically unstable Abell clusters（S1171, S0001, A1035, A1373, A1474 and A4053） is studied. For this, twodimensional observed parameters（e.g., positions, diameters and position angles） are converted into three-dimensional（3D） rotation axes of the galaxy using the ＇position angle-inclination＇ method. The expected isotropic distribution curves for angular momentum vectors are obtained by performing random simulations. The observed and expected distributions are compared using several statistical tests.No preferred alignments of angular momentum vectors of galaxies are noticed in all six dynamically unstable clusters, supporting the hierarchy model of galaxy formation. These clusters have a larger value of velocity dispersion. However, local effects are noticed in the clusters that have substructures in the1D-3D number density maps.

New open cluster candidates discovered in the XSTPS-GAC survey

The Xuyi Schmidt Telescope Photometric Survey of the Galactic Anti-center（XSTPS-GAC）is a photometric sky survey that covers nearly 6000 deg^2 towards the Galactic Anti-center（GAC） in the g,r,i bands. Half of its survey field is located on the Galactic Anti-center disk,which makes XSTPSGAC highly suitable to search for new open clusters in the GAC region. In this paper,we report new open cluster candidates discovered in this survey,as well as properties of these open cluster candidates,such as age,distance and reddening,derived by isochrone fitting in the color-magnitude diagram（CMD）.These open cluster candidates are stellar density peaks detected in the star density maps by applying the method from Koposov et al. Each candidate is inspected in terms of its true color image composed from three XSTPS-GAC band images. Then its CMD is checked,in order to identify whether the central region stars have a clear isochrone-like trend differing from background stars. The parameters derived from isochrone fitting for these candidates are mainly based on three band photometry of XSTPS-GAC.Moreover,when these new candidates are able to be seen clearly in 2 MASS data,their parameters are also derived based on the 2 MASS（J-H,J） CMD. There are a total of 320 known open clusters rediscovered and 24 new open cluster candidates discovered in this work. Furthermore,the parameters of these new candidates,as well as another 11 previously known open clusters,are properly determined for the first time.

The kinematical and space structures of IC 2391 open cluster and moving group with Gaia-DR2

The kinematical parameters,spatial shape and structure of the open cluster IC 2391 and the associated stellar stream are studied here using Gaia Data Release 2(GDR2) astrometry data.The apex positions are determined for the open cluster IC 2391(data taken from Cantat-Gaudin et al.) and for the kinematical stream’s stars mentioned in Montes et al.employing both convergent point and AD-diagram methods.The values of apex coordinates are:(A,D)CP=(6.~h17 ± 0.~h004,-6.°88 ± 0.°381;for cluster) and(6.~h07 ± 0.~h007,-5.°00 ± 0.°447;stream),and(A0,D0) =(6.~h12 ± 0.~h004,-3.°4 ± 0.°3;cluster) and(6.~h21 ±0.~h007,-11.°895 ± 0.°290;stream).The results are in good agreement with the previously calculated values.The positions of the stars in the disk and the spatial dispersion velocities are determined.The paths of cluster and associated stream are traced in the disk by orbit calculation back in time to their places of formation.A possible genetic relationship between the cluster and stream has been detected.The approximation of the spatial and kinematical shape of the stream and the cluster is made.According to this study,even though currently the cluster and stream seem to have a spatial difference in their locations,they appear to have formed in the same region of the Galactic disk.

Astrophysical parameters of ten poorly studied open star clusters

We present the fundamental parameters of ten open star clusters, nominated from Kronberger et al. who presented some newly discovered stellar groups on the basis of the Two Micron All Sky Survey photometry and Digitized Sky Survey visual images. Star counts and photometric parameters （radius, membership, distance, color excess, age, luminosity function, mass function, total mass, and dynamical relaxation time） have been determined for these ten clusters for the first time. In order to calibrate our procedures, the main parameters （distance, age, and color excess） have been reestimated for another five clusters, which are also studied by Kronberger et al.

Vilnius Photometry and Reddening of the Young Open Cluster NGC 6913

stars in the NGC 6913 field with both UBV and Vilnius photometry are selected to be the sample. The membership probability of the stars is greater than 50%. The correlation among Vilnius photometry, UBV photometry and reddening in the cluster is reviewed. It is found that the photometry in the Vilnius X, Y and Z bands can be used to make rough spectral classification. The values of E(B - V) are well correlated with the Vilnius colors of X - Y, Y - Z, Z - V and V - S in NGC 6913. The ratio of (V - S)/(Y - Z) of the MPCM (Most Possible Cluster Members) is a constant (1.30 -±0.06), and has no effect on the values of E(B - V), (B - V)0 and V0. Comparing with the observational data of all the stars of NGC 6913 region, we propose that the value of (V - S)/(Y - Z) can probably be used to select the preliminary candidates of one open cluster. In addition, 12 variable stars are discovered in the NGC 6913 region, in which star #155 has a variation with an amplitude of 4.25 mag.

A New Analysis in the Field of the Open Cluster Collinder 223

The present study of the open cluster Collinder 223 (Cr 223) depended greatlyon the photoelectric data of Claria and Lapasset. We use the data in conjunction with the AAO/DSS^1image of the cluster in a re-investigation to improve the main parameters of Cr 223, including thestellar density, the position of the cluster's center, the cluster's diameter. Its luminosityfunction, mass function, and total mass are also estimated.

Membership Determination of van den Bergh Open Clusters vdB92, vdB146 (NGC 7129) and vdB150

In this paper we study some van den Bergh open clusters combining photometry and astrometry. A model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density is applied to find the kinematic parameters and stellar membership in the region of the open clusters vdB92, vdB146 (NGC 7129) and vdB150. The astrometric data are obtained from UCAC4 catalogue. The centre coordinates, the components of mean proper motion, the angular diameter and the astrometric members are reported, taking the following values: for vdB92: &alpha;=105.97281&deg;&plusmn;0.13113&deg;, &delta;=&minus;11.57814&deg;&plusmn;0.10575&deg;,?&mu;&alpha;cos&delta;=&minus;3.46&plusmn;0.19mas/yr,&mu;&delta;=1.27&plusmn;0.19mas/yr, 34', 60 members;for vdB146: &alpha;=325.78423&deg;&plusmn;0.15297&deg;, &delta;=66.13575&deg;&plusmn;0.02907&deg;, &mu;&alpha;cos&delta;=&minus;2.71&plusmn;0.25mas/yr, &mu;&delta;=&minus;3.32&plusmn;0.25mas/yr, 9', 5 members;and for vdB150: &alpha;=332.22519&deg;&plusmn;0.06074&deg;, &delta;=73.40232&deg;&plusmn;0.0.07789&deg;, &mu;&alpha;cos&delta;=3.07&plusmn;0.90mas/yr, &mu;&delta;=4.65&plusmn;0.90mas/yr, 15', 7 members. The incidence of the proper motion errors in the determination of the cluster parameters and of the stellar membership is analysed and it is found that they do not significantly change. We finally compare the astrometric members with the photometric ones given in the literature.