Search

This paper discusses the B?ohm-Vitense gap, a gap in the colours of stars that occurs when the atmosphere changes from radiative to convective in deep layers. We are using different algorithms for detecting gaps in colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs), including the k-nearest neighbours (k-NN) and UniDip algorithms. We propose using a combination of the k-NN algorithm and the UniDip algorithm and manual verification to identify gaps unlikely to be of a statistical origin. Using the Gaia photometric system, i.e. BP - RP, we took the data of 130 star clusters and searched for gaps in the ranges of 0.40 to 0.47mag, and 0.56 to 0.60mag, respectively. We analysed all data statistically and identified the gaps in the individual clusters. Finally, we applied the kernel density estimator to see how the gaps are distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit the subject of Be candidate stars towards the Magellanic Clouds, previously studied by the authors using SPM4 proper motions. We obtain Gaia DR2 parallaxes and proper motions for 2357 and 994 LMC and SMC Be candidates, respectively. Parallaxes and proper motions versus colour V − I easily reveal the presence of the redder galactic contaminant foreground, as concluded in our previous work, but this time we do find a few red Be candidates consistent with being true Magellanic objects. A membership assessment to each Magellanic Cloud is done for each Be candidate, based on the distribution of their parallaxes and proper motions. From a compilation of published catalogues of spectroscopically confirmed emission line stars,we find that 41 (LMC) and 56 (SMC) of the Be candidates have shown the H α line in emission. Near-infrared IRSF JHKs magnitudes are obtained for about 70 per cent of the Be candidates with Gaia DR2 astrometric data. Mid-infrared SAGE IRAC 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 |$\mu$| m magnitudes are obtained for about 85 per cent as well. After discarding possible Herbig Ae/Be stars, one LMC and three SMC B emission line confirmed stars show significantly redder optical, near- and mid-infrared colours than what has been typically measured for Classical Be stars – they are called red Be stars. Taking into account that classical Be stars do not show these red colours, further studies about these four stars are needed in order to establish their true nature and explain the observed red excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A star coloring of a graph G is a proper vertex coloring in which every path on four vertices in G is not bicolored. The star chromatic number Xs (G) of G is the least number of colors needed to star color G. In this paper, we determine the star chromatic number of lexicographic product of complete graph with complete graph Km[Kn], complete graph with wheel graph Km[Wn], complete graph with path Km[Pn] and path with path Pm[Pn]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photometric surveys at optical, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths provide ever-growing datasets as major surveys proceed. Colour-colour diagrams are useful tools to identify classes of star and provide large samples. However, combining all photometric measurements of a star into a spectral energy distribution will allow quantitative analyses to be carried out. We demonstrate how to construct and exploit spectral energy distributions and colours for sublumious B (sdB) stars. The aim is to identify cool companions to hot subdwarfs and to determine atmospheric parameters of apparently single sdB stars as well as composite spectrum sdB binaries.We analyse two sdB stars with high-quality photometric data which serve as our benchmarks, the apparently single sdB HD205805 and the sdB + K5 binary PG 0749+658, briefly present preliminary results for the sample of 142 sdB binaries with known orbits, and discuss future prospects from ongoing all-sky optical space- (Gaia) and ground-based (e.g. SkyMapper) as well as NIR surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an 86 GHz SiO (v = 1,  J = 2 → 1) maser search toward late-type stars located within |b|< 0.​​°5 and 20° <  l <  50°. This search is an extension at longer longitudes of a previously published work. We selected 135 stars from the MSX catalog using color and flux criteria and detected 92 (86 new detections). The detection rate is 68%, the same as in our previous study. The last few decades have seen the publication of several catalogs of point sources detected in infrared surveys (MSX, 2MASS, DENIS, ISOGAL, WISE, GLIMPSE, AKARI, and MIPSGAL). We searched each catalog for data on the 444 targets of our earlier survey and for the 135 in the survey reported here. We confirm that, as anticipated, most of our targets have colors typical of oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Only one target star may have already left the AGB. Ten stars have colors typical of carbon-rich stars, meaning a contamination of our sample with carbon stars ≲1.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive galaxies display extended light profiles that can reach several hundreds of kiloparsecs. We use data from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey that is simultaneously wide (∼100 deg2) and deep (>28.5 mag arcsec-2 in i band) to study the stellar haloes of a sample of ∼7000 massive galaxies at z ∼ 0.4. The depth of the HSC data enables us to measure surface mass density profiles to 100 kpc for individual galaxies without stacking. As in previous work, we find that more massive galaxies exhibit more extended outer profiles than smaller galaxies. When this extended light is not properly accounted for (because of shallow imaging and/or inadequate profile modelling), the derived stellar mass function can be significantly underestimated at the high-mass end. Across our sample, the ellipticity of outer light profile increases substantially with radius. We show for the first time that these ellipticity gradients steepen dramatically as a function of galaxy mass, but we detect no mass dependence in outer colour gradients. Our results support the two-phase formation scenario for massive galaxies in which outer envelopes are built up at a later time from a series of merging events. We provide surface mass density profiles in a convenient tabulated format to facilitate comparisons with predictions from numerical simulations of galaxy formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parallaxes with an accuracy better than 10% and proper motions from the Gaia DR1 TGAS catalogue, radial velocities from the Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities (PCRV), accurate Tycho-2 photometry, theoretical PARSEC, MIST, YaPSI, BaSTI isochrones, and the most accurate reddening and interstellar extinction estimates have been used to analyze the kinematics of 9543 thin-disk B-F stars as a function of their dereddened color. The stars under consideration are located on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram relative to the isochrones with an accuracy of a few hundredths of a magnitude, i.e., at the level of uncertainty in the parallax, photometry, reddening, extinction, and the isochrones themselves. This has allowed us to choose the most plausible reddening and extinction estimates and to conclude that the reddening and extinction were significantly underestimated in some kinematic studies of other authors. Owing to the higher accuracy of TGAS parallaxes than that of Hipparcos ones, the median accuracy of the velocity components U, V, W in this study has improved to 1.7 km s−1, although outside the range −0.1m < (BT − VT)0 < 0.5m the kinematic characteristics are noticeably biased due to the incompleteness of the sample. We have confirmed the variations in the mean velocity of stars relative to the Sun and the stellar velocity dispersion as a function of their dereddened color known from the Hipparcos data. Given the age estimates for the stars under consideration from the TRILEGAL model and the Geneva-Copenhagen survey, these variations may be considered as variations as a function of the stellar age. A comparison of our results with the results of other studies of the stellar kinematics near the Sun has shown that selection and reddening underestimation explain almost completely the discrepancies between the results. The dispersions and mean velocities from the results of reliable studies fit into a ±2 km s−1 corridor, while the ratios σV/σU and σW/σU fit into ±0.05. Based on all reliable studies in the range −0.1m < (BT − VT)0 < 0.5m, i.e., for an age from 0.23 to 2.4 Gyr, we have found: W⊙ = 7.15 km s−1, σU=16.0e1.29(BT−VT)ο, σV=10.9e1.11(BT−VT)ο, σW=6.8e1.46(BT−VT)ο, the stellar velocity dispersions in km s−1 are proportional to the age in Gyr raised to the power βU = 0.33, βV = 0.285, and βW = 0.37. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the growth and evolution of quenched galaxies in the MUFASA cosmological hydrodynamic simulations that include an evolving halo mass-based quenching prescription, with galaxy colours computed accounting for line-of-sight extinction to individual star particles. MUFASA reproduces the observed present-day red sequence reasonably well, including its slope, amplitude and scatter. In MUFASA, the red sequence slope is driven entirely by the steep stellar mass-stellar metallicity relation, which independently agrees with observations. High-mass star-forming galaxies blend smoothly on to the red sequence, indicating the lack of a well-defined green valley at M* ≳ 1010.5 M⊙. The most massive galaxies quench the earliest and then grow very little in mass via dry merging; they attain their high masses at earlier epochs when cold inflows more effectively penetrate hot haloes. To higher redshifts, the red sequence becomes increasingly contaminated with massive dusty star-forming (SF) galaxies; UVJ selection subtly but effectively separates these populations. We then examine the evolution of the mass functions of central and satellite galaxies split into passive and star-forming via UVJ. Massive quenched systems show good agreement with observations out to z ~ 2, despite not including a rapid early quenching mode associated with mergers. However, low-mass quenched galaxies are far too numerous at z ≲ 1 in MUFASA, indicating that MUFASA strongly overquenches satellites. A challenge for hydrodynamic simulations is to devise a quenching model that produces enough early massive quenched galaxies and keeps them quenched to z = 0, while not being so strong as to overquench satellites; MUFASA's current scheme fails at the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present mock optical images, broad-band and Hα fluxes, and D4000 spectral indices for 30 145 galaxies from the EAGLE hydrodynamical simulation at redshift z = 0.1, modelling dust with the SKIRT Monte Carlo radiative transfer code. The modelling includes a subgrid prescription for dusty star-forming regions, with both the subgrid obscuration of these regions and the fraction of metals in diffuse interstellar dust calibrated against far-infrared fluxes of local galaxies. The predicted optical colours as a function of stellar mass agree well with observation, with the SKIRT model showing marked improvement over a simple dust-screen model. The orientation dependence of attenuation is weaker than observed because EAGLE galaxies are generally puffier than real galaxies, due to the pressure floor imposed on the interstellar medium (ISM). The mock Hα luminosity function agrees reasonably well with the data, and we quantify the extent to which dust obscuration affects observed Hα fluxes. The distribution of D4000 break values is bimodal, as observed. In the simulation, 20 per cent of galaxies deemed 'passive' for the SKIRT model, i.e. exhibiting D4000 >1.8, are classified 'active' when ISM dust attenuation is not included. The fraction of galaxies with stellar mass greater than 1010 M⊙ that are deemed passive is slightly smaller than observed, which is due to low levels of residual star formation in these simulated galaxies. Colour images, fluxes and spectra of EAGLE galaxies are to be made available through the public EAGLE data base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Careful analyses of photometric and star count data available for the nine putative young clusters identified by Camargo et al. at high Galactic latitudes reveal that none of the groups contain early-type stars, and most are not significant density enhancements above the field level. Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) colours for stars in the groups match those of unreddened late-type dwarfs and giants, as expected for the contamination by (mostly) thin disc objects. A simulation of one such field using only typical high-latitude foreground stars yields a colour-magnitude diagram that is very similar to those constructed by Camargo et al. as evidence for their young groups as well as the means of deriving their reddenings and distances. Although some of the fields are coincident with clusters of galaxies, one must conclude that there is no evidence that the putative clusters are extremely young stellar groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results from a near-/mid-IR search for submillimetre galaxies over a region of 6230 deg² of the southern sky. We used a cross-correlation of the VISTA Hemispheric Survey (VHS) and the WISE data base to identify bright galaxies (Ks ≤ 18.2) with near-/mid-IR colours similar to those of the high-redshift lensed submm galaxy SMM J2135-0102. We find seven galaxies that fulfil all five adopted near-/mid-IR colour (NMIRQC) criteria and resemble the SED of the reference galaxy at these wavelengths. For these galaxies, which are broadly distributed in the sky, we determined photometric redshifts in the range z = 1.6-3.2. We searched the VHS for clusters of galaxies, which may be acting as gravitational lenses, and found that six out of the seven galaxies are located within 3.5 arcmin of a cluster/group of galaxies. Using the J-Ks versus J sequences, we determine photometric redshifts for these clusters/groups in the range z = 0.2-0.9. We propose the newly identified sources are ultrabright high-redshift lensed SMG candidates. Follow-up observations in the submm and mm are key to determine the ultimate nature of these objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photometric properties of red supergiants (RSGs) in three nearby galaxies NGC 4449, NGC 5055 and NGC 5457 were investigated using near-infrared (JHK) imaging data obtained from WFCAM UKIRT. The resulting near-infrared photometric catalogue was combined with optical archive data to remove foreground Galactic stars. We found that the foreground stars can be separated from the supergiants in a (i - K, r - i) colour-colour diagram. The (J - K, K)0 colour-magnitude diagrams of the three galaxies are investigated and compared with theoretical isochrones. The majority of RSGs in the three galaxies have common age ranges from log (tyr) = 6.9 to log (tyr) = 7.3, and this indicates that these galaxies have experienced recent star formation within 20 Myr. For NGC 4449 and NGC 5457, the RSGs are spatially correlated with the H II regions, which, however, is not the case for NGC 5055. We were not able to identify a clear metallicity dependence on the colours and the peak absolute magnitudes of the RSGs in the three galaxies. The inaccuracy of our photometric data contributes to the unclear metallicity effect on the colours of RSGs. Instead, we found a similar colour distribution and a constant peak magnitude of MK =-11.9 for the RSGs in the three galaxies. Therefore, we note that additional spectroscopy data for our RSG candidates, including photometry, are necessary to examine whether the RSG population changes with metallicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Mode identification has remained a major obstacle in the interpretation of pulsation spectra in rapidly rotating stars. This has motivated recent work on calculating realistic multi-colour mode visibilities in this type of star. Aims: We would like to test mode identification methods and seismic diagnostics in rapidly rotating stars, using oscillation spectra that are based on these new theoretical predictions. Methods: We investigate the auto-correlation function and Fourier transform of theoretically calculated frequency spectra, in which modes are selected according to their visibilities. Given that intrinsic mode amplitudes are determined by non-linear saturation and cannot currently be theoretically predicted, we experimented with various ad-hoc prescriptions for setting the mode amplitudes, including using random values. Furthermore, we analyse the ratios between mode amplitudes observed in different photometric bands to see up to what extent they can identify modes. Results: When non-random intrinsic mode amplitudes are used, our results show that it is possible to extract a mean value for the large frequency separation or half its value and, sometimes, twice the rotation rate, from the auto-correlation of the frequency spectra. Furthermore, the Fourier transforms are mostly sensitive to the large frequency separation or half its value. The combination of the two methods may therefore measure and distinguish the two types of separations. When the intrinsic mode amplitudes include random factors, which seems more representative of real stars, the results are far less favourable. It is only when the large separation or half its value coincides with twice the rotation rate, that it might be possible to detect the signature of a frequency regularity. We also find that amplitude ratios are a good way of grouping together modes with similar characteristics. By analysing the frequencies of these groups, it is possible to constrain mode identification, as well as determine the large frequency separation and the rotation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a UBVI CCD photometric study of two open star clusters Ruprecht 25 and Czernik 6 using the data taken with 104-cm Sampurnanand telescope, ARIES, Nainital, India. The optical CCD data for these clusters are obtained for the first time. The clusters radii are found to be 2′.4 and 1′.5. Using two colour ( U − B ) versus ( B − V ) diagram we have estimated the reddening as E ( B − V ) = 0.55 ± 0.05 mag for Ruprecht 25 and 0.48 ± 0.05 mag for Czernik 6, while the corresponding distances are 5.8 ± 0.5 and 5.0 ± 0.3 kpc. Ages of 800 ± 80 Myr for Ruprecht 25 and 40 ± 10 Myr for Czernik 6 are determined using the stellar isochrones of metallicity Z = 0.019 . We have also determined the relaxation time for the clusters Ruprecht 25 and Czernik 6. Our analysis indicates that both clusters are dynamically relaxed. This may be due to the dynamical evolution or imprint of star formation itself or both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use 3035 Herschel-SPIRE 500 μmsources from 20.3 deg² of sky in the HerMES Lockman, ES1 and XMM-LSS areas to estimate the star formation rate density at z = 0-6. 500 μm sources are associated first with 350 and 250 μm sources, and then with Spitzer 24 μm sources from the SWIRE photometric redshift catalogue. The infrared and submillimetre data are fitted with a set of radiative-transfer templates corresponding to cirrus (quiescent) and starburst galaxies. Lensing candidates are removed via a set of colour-colour and colour- redshift constraints. Star formation rates are found to extend from <1 to 20 000 M⊙ yr-1. Such high values were also seen in the all-sky IRAS Faint Source Survey. Star formation rate functions are derived in a series of redshift bins from 0 to 6, combined with earlier far-infrared estimates, where available, and fitted with a Saunders et al (1990) functional form. The star formation rate density as a function of redshift is derived and compared with other estimates. There is reasonable agreement with both infrared and ultraviolet estimates for z < 3, but we find higher star formation rate densities than ultraviolet estimates at z = 3-6. Given the considerable uncertainties in the submillimetre estimates, we cannot rule out the possibility that the ultraviolet estimates are correct. But the possibility that the ultraviolet estimates have seriously underestimated the contribution of dust-shrouded star formation can also not be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of a spectroscopic survey for new K- and M-type members of Scorpius- Centaurus (Sco-Cen), the nearest OB Association (~100-200 pc). Using an X-ray, proper motion and colour-magnitude selected sample, we obtained spectra for 361 stars, for which we report spectral classifications and Li and Ha equivalent widths. We identified 156 new members of Sco-Cen, and recovered 51 previously published members. We have combined these with previously known members to form a sample of 493 solar-mass (~0.7-1.3 M⊙) members of Sco-Cen. We investigated the star formation history of this sample, and reassessed the ages of the massive main-sequence turn-off and the G-type members in all three subgroups. We performed a census for circumstellar discs in our sample using WISE infrared data and find a protoplanetary disc fraction for K-type stars of 4.4+1.6-0.9 per cent for Upper Centaurus-Lupus and Lower Centaurus-Crux at~16 Myr and 9.0+4.0-2.2 per cent for Upper Scorpius at ~10 Myr. These data are consistent with a protoplanetary disc e-folding time-scale of ~4-5 Myr for ~1M⊙ stars, twice that previously quoted, but consistent with the Bell et al. revised age scale of young clusters. Finally, we construct an age map of Scorpius-Centaurus which clearly reveals substructure consisting of concentrations of younger and older stars. We find evidence for strong age gradients within all three subgroups. None of the subgroups are consistent with being simple, coeval populations which formed in single bursts, but likely represents a multitude of smaller star formation episodes of hundreds to tens of stars each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the effective temperatures (Teff), metallicities, and colours in Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Two Micron All Sky Survey, andWide-field Infrared Survey Explorer filters, of a sample of 3834 late-K and early-M dwarfs selected from the SDSS Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) spectroscopic survey ASPCAP (APOGEE Stellar Parameters and Chemical Abundances Pipeline) catalogue. We confirm that ASPCAP Teff values between 3550 < Teff < 4200 K are accurate to ~100 K compared to interferometric Teff values. In that same Teff range, ASPCAP metallicities are accurate to 0.18 dex between -1.0 <[M/H]<0.2. For these cool dwarfs, nearly every colour is sensitive to both Teff and metallicity. Notably, we find that g - r is not a good indicator of metallicity for near-solar metallicity early-M dwarfs. We confirm that J - KS colour is strongly dependent on metallicity, and find that W1 - W2 colour is a promising metallicity indicator. Comparison of the late-K and early-M dwarf colours, metallicities, and Teff to those from three different model grids shows reasonable agreement in r - z and J - KS colours, but poor agreement in u - g, g - r, and W1 - W2. Comparison of the metallicities of the KM dwarf sample to those from previous colour-metallicity relations reveals a lack of consensus in photometric metallicity indicators for late-K and early-M dwarfs. We also present empirical relations for Teff as a function of r - z colour combined with either [M/H] or W1 - W2 colour, and for [M/H] as a function of r - z and W1 - W2 colour. These relations yield Teff to ~100 K and [M/H] to ~0.18 dex precision with colours alone, for Teff in the range of 3550-4200 K and [M/H] in the range of -0.5-0.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) ACS/WFC images, we have performed stellar photometry for eight fields of the spiral galaxy NGC 1313 and its satellite, the low-mass Sph/Irr galaxy AM0319-662. Stars of various ages have been identified on the constructed Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams: young supergiants, middle-aged stars, and old stars (red giants); their apparent distributions over the body of the galaxy are presented. The red supergiants and giants have been divided into groups with larger and smaller color indices, corresponding to a difference in stellar metallicity. These groups of stars are shown to have different spatial distributions and to belong to two galaxies, NGC1313 itself and the disrupted satellite. We have determined the distance to NGC 1313, D = 3.88 ± 0.07 Mpc, by the TRGB method from six fields. Our photometry of 2014 HST images has revealed an emerged charge transfer inefficiency on the ACS/WFC CCDs, which manifests itself as a dependence of the photometry of stars on their coordinates on the CCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UBVRI photometric data for R CrB during the visual light minimum of 2007-2015 are presented. The unique duration (more than 8 years) and depth of the brightness decrease (9) did not change the typical behavior of the color indices: the reduction in the color indices during the stage of decreasing brightness and their rise during the transient increase in brightness over the interval JD 2454500-2454600. The wavelength dependence of the amplitude of the brightness increase during this episode of transient brightness increase is typical: a visual increase of 0.7 in the i band corresponded to 0.1 in the b band. The current visual minimum is interpreted as a manifestation of a 46-year cyclicity in the activity of R CrB in addition to its known 4284 and 1200-day cycles. The IV-th great brightness minimum, like any other minimum, is interpreted as a consequence of the formation of a sequence of screening shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an investigation of the globular cluster (GC) systems of NGC 3607 and NGC 3608 as part of the ongoing SLUGGS (SAGES Legacy Unifying Globulars and GalaxieS) survey. We use wide-field imaging data from the Subaru telescope in the g, r and i filters to analyse the radial density, colour and azimuthal distributions of both GC systems. With the complementary kinematic data obtained from the Keck II telescope, we measure the radial velocities of a total of 81 GCs. Our results show that the GC systems of NGC 3607 and NGC 3608 have a detectable spatial extent of ~15 and 13 galaxy effective radii, respectively. Both GC systems show a clear bimodal colour distribution. We detect a significant radial colour gradient for the GC subpopulations in both galaxies. NGC 3607 exhibits an overabundance of red GCs on the galaxy minor axis and NGC 3608 shows a misalignment in the GC subpopulation position angles with respect to the galaxy stellar component. With the aid of literature data, we discuss several relationships between the properties of GC systems and their host galaxies. A one-to-one relation between the ellipticities of red GCs and the galaxy stellar light emphasizes the evolutionary similarities between them. In our sample of four slowly rotating galaxies with kinematically decoupled cores, we observe a higher ellipticity for the blue GC subpopulation than their red counterparts. Also, we notice the flattening of negative colour gradients for the blue GC subpopulations with increasing galaxy stellar mass. Finally, we discuss the formation scenarios associated with the blue GC subpopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have monitored the BL Lacertae object S5 0716+714 simultaneously in the B, R and I bands on three nights in 2014 November. The average time resolution is quite high (73, 34 and 58 s for the filters B, R and I), which can help us trace the profile of the variation and search for the short inter-band time delay. Intra-day variability was about 0.1 mag on the first two nights and more than 0.3 mag on the third. A bluer-when-brighter colour behaviour was found. A clear loop path can be seen on the colour-magnitude diagram of the third night, revealing possible time delays between variations at high and low energies. It is the first time that the intra-day spectral hysteresis loop has been found so obviously in the optical band. We used the interpolated cross-correlation function method to further confirm the time delay and calculated the values of lag between light curves at different wavelengths on each night. On the third night, variations in the R and B bands are approximately 1.5 min lagging behind the I band. Such optical time delay is probably due to the interplay of different processes of electrons in the jet of the blazar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acyclic coloring of a graph G is a proper vertex coloring such that G contains no bicolored cycles. The more restricted notion of star coloring of G is an acyclic coloring in which each path of length 3 is not bicolored. In this paper, we mainly study on the acyclic and star coloring of P 4 -reducible and P 4 -sparse graphs. Moreover, we list polynomial-time algorithms for giving an optimal acyclic or star coloring of a P 4 -reducible or P 4 -sparse graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present CCD UBVRI photometry of the field of the open cluster NGC 6866. Structural parameters of the cluster are determined utilizing the stellar density profile of the stars in the field. We calculate the probabilities of the stars being physical members of the cluster, using their astrometric data, and perform further analyses using only the most probable members. The reddening and metallicity of the cluster were determined by independent methods. The LAMOST spectra and the ultraviolet excess of the F- and G-type main-sequence stars in the cluster indicate that the metallicity of the cluster is about the solar value. We estimated the reddening E(B - V) = 0.074 ± 0.050 mag using the U - B versus B - V two-colour diagram. The distance modula, the distance and the age of NGC 6866 were derived as µ = 10.60 ± 0.10 mag, d = 1189 ± 75 pc and t = 813 ± 50 Myr, respectively, by fitting colour-magnitude diagrams of the cluster with the PARSEC isochrones. The Galactic orbit of NGC 6866 indicates that the cluster is orbiting in a slightly eccentric orbit with e = 0.12. The mass function slope x = 1.35 ± 0.08 was derived by using the most probable members of the cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mean absolute extinction towards the central parsec of the Milky Way is AK ≃ 3 mag, including both foreground and Galactic Centre dust. Here we present a measurement of dust extinction within the Galactic old nuclear star cluster (NSC), based on combining differential extinctions of NSC stars with their νl proper motions along Galactic longitude. Extinction within the NSC preferentially affects stars at its far side, and because the NSC rotates, this causes higher extinctions for NSC stars with negative νl, as well as an asymmetry in the νl-histograms. We model these effects using an axisymmetric dynamical model of the NSC in combination with simple models for the dust distribution. Comparing the predicted asymmetry to data for ~7100 stars in several NSC fields, we find that dust associated with the Galactic Centre mini-spiral with extinction AK ≃ 0.15-0.8 mag explains most of the data. The largest extinction AK ≃ 0.8 mag is found in the region of the Western arm of the mini-spiral. Comparing with total AK determined from stellar colours, we determine the extinction in front of the NSC. Finally, we estimate that for a typical extinction ofAK ≃ 0.4 the statistical parallax of the NSC changes by ~0.4per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in luminosity as a star evolves on the red-giant branch is interrupted briefly when the hydrogen-burning shell reaches the vicinity of the composition discontinuity left behind from the first convective dredge-up. The non-monotonic variation of luminosity causes an accumulation of stars, known as the 'bump', in the distribution of stars in the colour- magnitude diagrams of stellar clusters, which has substantial diagnostic potential. Here, I present numerical results on this behaviour and discuss the physical reason for the luminosity variation, with the goal of strengthening the understanding of origin of the phenomenon and hence of its diagnostic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present photometric observations of two polar candidates, IPHAS J052832.69+283837.6 and 1RXS J073346.0+261933. Both objects reveal brightness variations related to the orbital period with an amplitude of about 1, and about 0ṃ5 on the long-termscale. The object IPHASJ052832.69+283837.6 also exhibits variations of color indices and light curve shape. Long-term observations allowed us to determine the orbital period of the first system and refine the orbital period of the second system, which proved to be $${P_{ord}} = 0_.^d055593(4)$$ and $${P_{ord}} = 0_.^d139095(2)$$ respectively. The photometric data analysis proves that these systems are polars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-to-light versus colour relations (MLCRs), derived from stellar population synthesis models, are widely used to estimate galaxy stellar masses (M*), yet a detailed investigation of their inherent biases and limitations is still lacking. We quantify several potential sources of uncertainty, using optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry for a representative sample of nearby galaxies from the Virgo cluster. Our method for combining multiband photometry with MLCRs yields robust stellar masses, while errors in M* decrease as more bands are simultaneously considered. The prior assumptions in one's stellar population modelling dominate the error budget, creating a colour-dependent bias of up to 0.6 dex if NIR fluxes are used (0.3 dex otherwise). This matches the systematic errors associated with the method of spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting, indicating that MLCRs do not suffer from much additional bias. Moreover, MLCRs and SED fitting yield similar degrees of random error (~0.1-0.14 dex) when applied to mock galaxies and, on average, equivalent masses for real galaxies with M* ~ 108-11 M⊙. The use of integrated photometry introduces additional uncertainty in M* measurements, at the level of 0.05-0.07 dex. We argue that using MLCRs, instead of time-consuming SED fits, is justified in cases with complex model parameter spaces (involving, for instance, multiparameter star formation histories) and/or for large data sets. Spatially resolved methods for measuring M* should be applied for small sample sizes and/or when accuracies less than 0.1 dex are required. An appendix provides our MLCR transformations for 10 colour permutations of the grizH filter set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a sample of 37 of the densest clusters and protoclusters across 1.3 ≤ z ≤ 3.2 from the Clusters Around Radio-Loud AGN (CARLA) survey to study the formation of massive cluster galaxies. We use optical i′-band and infrared 3.6 and 4.5 μm images to statistically select sources within these protoclusters and measure their median observed colours; 〈i′ − [3.6]〉. We find the abundance of massive galaxies within the protoclusters increases with decreasing redshift, suggesting these objects may form an evolutionary sequence, with the lower redshift clusters in the sample having similar properties to the descendants of the high-redshift protoclusters. We find that the protocluster galaxies have an approximately unevolving observed-frame i′ − [3.6] colour across the examined redshift range. We compare the evolution of the 〈i′ − [3.6]〉 colour of massive cluster galaxies with simplistic galaxy formation models. Taking the full cluster population into account, we show that the formation of stars within the majority of massive cluster galaxies occurs over at least 2 Gyr, and peaks at z ~ 2–3. From the median i′ − [3.6] colours, we cannot determine the star formation histories of individual galaxies, but their star formation must have been rapidly terminated to produce the observed red colours. Finally, we show that massive galaxies at z > 2 must have assembled within 0.5 Gyr of them forming a significant fraction of their stars. This means that few massive galaxies in z > 2 protoclusters could have formed via dry mergers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JHKS photometry is presented from a 3-yr survey of the central regions of the Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy IC 1613. The morphologies of the colour-magnitude and colour- colour diagrams are discussed with particular reference to the supergiants and M- and C-type asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Mean JHKS magnitudes, amplitudes and periods are given for five O-rich and nine C-rich Mira variables for which bolometric magnitudes are also estimated. A distance of 750 kpc ((m - M)0 = 24.37 ± 0.08 mag) is derived for IC 1613 by fitting a period-luminosity (PL) relation to the C-rich Miras. This is in agreement with values from the literature. The AGB stars exhibit a range of ages. A comparison with theoretical isochrones suggests that four luminous O-rich Miras are as young as 2 × 108 yr. One of these has a lithium absorption line in its spectrum, demonstrating that it is undergoing hot bottom burning (HBB). This supports the idea that HBB is the cause of the high luminosity of these AGB stars, which puts them above the fundamental PL relation. Further studies of similar stars, selected from their positions in the PL diagram, could provide insight into HBB. A much fainter, presumed O-rich, Mira is similar to those found in Galactic globular clusters. The C Miras are of intermediate age. The O-rich variables are not all recognized as O-rich, or even as AGB stars, on the basis of their J - KS colour. It is important to appreciate this when using near-infrared surveys to classify AGB stars in more distant galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous work by Gentile Fusillo et al., we developed a selection method for white dwarf candidates which makes use of photometry, colours and proper motions to calculate a probability of being a white dwarf (PWD). The application of our method to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data release 10 resulted in ≃66 000 photometrically selected objects with a derived PWD, approximately ≃21 000 of which are high-confidence white dwarf candidates. Here, we present an independent test of our selection method based on a sample of spectroscopically confirmed white dwarfs from the Large Sky Area Multi-Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) survey. We do this by cross-matching all our ≃66 000 SDSS photometric white dwarf candidates with the over 4 million spectra available in the third data release of LAMOST. This results in 1673 white dwarf candidates with no previous SDSS spectroscopy, but with available LAMOST spectra. Among these objects, we identify 309 genuine white dwarfs. We find that our PWD can efficiently discriminate between confirmed LAMOST white dwarfs and contaminants. Our white dwarf candidate selection method can be applied to any multiband photometric survey and in this work we conclusively confirm its reliability in selecting white dwarfs without recourse to spectroscopy. We also discuss the spectroscopic completeness of white dwarfs in LAMOST, as well as deriving effective temperatures, surface gravities and masses for the hydrogen-rich atmosphere white dwarfs in the newly identified LAMOST sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which monitors the open cluster IC4651. Methods and instruments used in the observations of the long period variables (LPVs) in stellar clusters conducted at Mount Stromlo in Australia. Results of the study and several charts are presented showing the light curves of the four variables detected and 2MASS colour-magnitude diagram for sources 10 arcminutes in IC4651.

The article presents the AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS) for the color of W UMa binaries, the period distribution of the overcontact binary star systems with convective envelopes. Examinations of the APASS database was conducted and the B-V color was measured. Charts are presented showing the period-color relation for systems wherein redder objects than short-period blue envelope (SPBE) are likely to be W UMa systems.

Long-term JHKLM photometric measurements of the oxygen Mira variables RU Her and RS Vir are presented. Variations of the brightnesses and colors of these stars over the observation period are analyzed, and master light curves and color indices of these stars are derived. A linear trend was present in the mean infrared brightness of RS Vir on a time scale of ∼6000 day, possibly related to changes in the dust shell of the Mira. The results of model calculations of spherically symmetric dust shells of stars based on mean-flux data supplemented by observations from the IRAS and AKARI satellites in the intermediate- and far-IR are presented. The visual optical depth of the dust shell of RU Her, which has a temperature at its inner boundary T = 590 K, is quite low: τ = 0.33. The dust shell of RS Vir is much cooler ( T = 410 K), and has τ = 0.77. The estimated mass-loss rate of RU Her is 6.2 × 10 M/yr, while the mass-loss rate of RS Vir is 7.1 × 10 M/yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present constraints on Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) progenitors through an analysis of the environments found at the explosion sites of 102 events within star-forming host galaxies. Hα and Galaxy Evolution Explorer near-ultraviolet (UV) images are used to trace on-going and recent star formation (SF), while broad-band B, R, J, K imaging is also analysed. Using pixel statistics we find that SNe Ia show the lowest degree of association with Hα emission of all supernova (SN) types. It is also found that they do not trace near-UV emission. As the latter traces SF on time-scales less than 100 Myr, this rules out any extreme ‘prompt’ delay times as the dominant progenitor channel of SNe Ia. SNe Ia best trace the B-band light distribution of their host galaxies. This implies that the population within star-forming galaxies is dominated by relatively young progenitors. Splitting SNe by their (B − V) colours at maximum light, ‘redder’ events show a higher degree of association with H ii regions and are found more centrally within hosts. We discuss possible explanations of this result in terms of line-of-sight extinction and progenitor effects. No evidence for correlations between SN stretch and environment properties is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As a major component of the LAMOST Galactic surveys, the LAMOST Spectroscopic Survey of the Galactic Anticentre (LSS-GAC) aims to survey a significant volume of the Galactic thin/thick discs and halo for a contiguous sky area of over 3400 deg2 centred on the Galactic anticentre (|b| ≤ 30°, 150 ≤ l ≤ 210°), and obtain λλ3700–9000 low-resolution (R ∼ 1800) spectra for a statistically complete sample of ∼3 M stars of all colours down to a limiting magnitude of r ∼ 17.8 mag (to 18.5 mag for limited fields). Together with Gaia, the LSS-GAC will yield a unique data set to advance our understanding of the structure and assemblage history of the Galaxy, in particular its disc(s). In addition to the main survey, the LSS-GAC will also target hundreds of thousands objects in the vicinity fields of M 31 and M 33 and survey a significant fraction (over a million) of randomly selected very bright stars (r ≤ 14 mag) in the Northern hemisphere. During the Pilot and the first year Regular Surveys of LAMOST, a total of 1042 586 [750 867] spectra of a signal-to-noise ratio S/N(7450 Å) ≥ 10 [S/N(4650 Å) ≥ 10] have been collected. In this paper, we present a detailed description of the target selection algorithm, survey design, observations and the first data release of value-added catalogues (including radial velocities, effective temperatures, surface gravities, metallicities, values of interstellar extinction, distances, proper motions and orbital parameters) of the LSS-GAC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We performed simultaneous observations in 3 bands ( U BV) of the flickering variability of the recurrent novae RS Oph and T CrB at quiescence. Using new and published data, we compare the colours of the flickering in cataclysmic variables and symbiotic recurrent novae. We find a difference between the colours of the flickering source in these two types of accreting white dwarfs. The detected difference is highly significant with p -values ≈2 x 10-6 for the distributions of ( U - B)0 colour and p ≈ 3 x 10-5 on an ( U - B) versus ( B - V) diagram. The possible physical reasons are briefly discussed. The data are available upon request from the authors. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on 2MASS photometry ( J H Ks magnitudes) of 1172 Be stars. The observed mean intrinsic colours have been derived with aid of two-colour diagrams for Be stars of luminosity classes Ie-IIe, IIIe and IVe-Ve. The obtained results are the first determinations of their intrinsic colours in the astronomical literature. The smoothed infrared colours are compared with those obtained for 'normal' B stars. Several two-colour diagrams and plots of observed and smoothed intrinsic colour versus spectral type of luminosity classes Ie-IIe, IIIe and IVe-Ve are presented. Generally the determined infrared intrinsic colours of Be stars ( V - J)0, ( V - H)0, and ( V - Ks) o differ substantially from those of 'normal' B stars. It is found that the intrinsic colours of B stars are generally bluer than Be stars of corresponding spectral type and luminosity class. The mean absolute visual magnitude M v of 528 Be stars for luminosity classes Iae, Ibe-Iabe, IIe, IIIe and IVe-Ve is derived from HIPPARCOS parallaxes. The M v calibration is compared with the existing ones. The Be stars are generally brighter than 'normal' B stars of corresponding spectral types. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stellar content in and around Sh2-311 region have been studied using the deep optical observations as well as near-infrared (NIR) data from 2MASS. The region contains three clusters, viz. NGC 2467, Haffner 18 and Haffner 19. We have made an attempt to distinguish the stellar content of these individual regions as well as to re-determine their fundamental parameters such as distance, reddening, age, onto the basis of a new and more extended optical and infrared photometric data set. NGC 2467 and Haffner 19 are found to be located in the Perseus arm at the distances of 5.0 ± 0.4 kpc and 5.7 ± 0.4 kpc, respectively, whereas Haffner 18 is located at the distance of 11.2 ± 1.0 kpc. The clusters NGC 2467 and Haffner 19 might have formed from the same molecular cloud, whereas the cluster Haffner 18 is located in the outer galactic arm, i.e. the Norma–Cygnus arm. We identify 8 class II young stellar objects (YSOs) using the NIR ( J - H ) / ( H - K ) two colour diagram. We have estimated the age and mass of the YSOs identified in the present work and those by Snider et al. (2009) using the V / ( V - I ) colour-magnitude diagram. The estimated ages and mass range of the majority of the YSOs are ≲ 1 Myr and ∼0.4–3.5 M ⊙ , respectively, indicating that these sources could be T-Tauri stars or their siblings. Spatial distribution of the YSOs shows that some of the YSOs are distributed around the H ii region Sh2-311, suggesting a triggered star formation at its periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]