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Star Formation Histories of Nearby Elliptical Galaxies. I. Volume-Limited Sample
This work presents high signal-to-noise ratio spectroscopic observationsof a representative sample of nearby elliptical galaxies. Theseobservations provide a strong test of models for the formation ofelliptical galaxies and their star formation histories. Combining thesedata with the González data set, a volume-limited sample of 45galaxies has been defined. Results are in agreement with previousstudies: the existence of the metallicity hyperplane and the Z-plane ofTrager and coworkers is confirmed, and the distribution is clearly dueto physical variations in stellar population parameters and notmeasurement uncertainty. Trends between stellar population parametersand galaxy structural parameters suggest that angular momentum maydetermine the chemical abundance of a galaxy at a given mass.
| Local kinematics of K and M giants from CORAVEL/Hipparcos/Tycho-2 data. Revisiting the concept of superclusters
The availability of the Hipparcos Catalogue has triggered many kinematicand dynamical studies of the solar neighbourhood. Nevertheless, thosestudies generally lacked the third component of the space velocities,i.e., the radial velocities. This work presents the kinematic analysisof 5952 K and 739 M giants in the solar neighbourhood which includes forthe first time radial velocity data from a large survey performed withthe CORAVEL spectrovelocimeter. It also uses proper motions from theTycho-2 catalogue, which are expected to be more accurate than theHipparcos ones. An important by-product of this study is the observedfraction of only 5.7% of spectroscopic binaries among M giants ascompared to 13.7% for K giants. After excluding the binaries for whichno center-of-mass velocity could be estimated, 5311 K and 719 M giantsremain in the final sample. The UV-plane constructed from these datafor the stars with precise parallaxes (σπ/π≤20%) reveals a rich small-scale structure, with several clumpscorresponding to the Hercules stream, the Sirius moving group, and theHyades and Pleiades superclusters. A maximum-likelihood method, based ona Bayesian approach, has been applied to the data, in order to make fulluse of all the available stars (not only those with precise parallaxes)and to derive the kinematic properties of these subgroups. Isochrones inthe Hertzsprung-Russell diagram reveal a very wide range of ages forstars belonging to these groups. These groups are most probably relatedto the dynamical perturbation by transient spiral waves (as recentlymodelled by De Simone et al. \cite{Simone2004}) rather than to clusterremnants. A possible explanation for the presence of younggroup/clusters in the same area of the UV-plane is that they have beenput there by the spiral wave associated with their formation, while thekinematics of the older stars of our sample has also been disturbed bythe same wave. The emerging picture is thus one of dynamical streamspervading the solar neighbourhood and travelling in the Galaxy withsimilar space velocities. The term dynamical stream is more appropriatethan the traditional term supercluster since it involves stars ofdifferent ages, not born at the same place nor at the same time. Theposition of those streams in the UV-plane is responsible for the vertexdeviation of 16.2o ± 5.6o for the wholesample. Our study suggests that the vertex deviation for youngerpopulations could have the same dynamical origin. The underlyingvelocity ellipsoid, extracted by the maximum-likelihood method afterremoval of the streams, is not centered on the value commonly acceptedfor the radial antisolar motion: it is centered on < U > =-2.78±1.07 km s-1. However, the full data set(including the various streams) does yield the usual value for theradial solar motion, when properly accounting for the biases inherent tothis kind of analysis (namely, < U > = -10.25±0.15 kms-1). This discrepancy clearly raises the essential questionof how to derive the solar motion in the presence of dynamicalperturbations altering the kinematics of the solar neighbourhood: doesthere exist in the solar neighbourhood a subset of stars having no netradial motion which can be used as a reference against which to measurethe solar motion?Based on observations performed at the Swiss 1m-telescope at OHP,France, and on data from the ESA Hipparcos astrometry satellite.Full Table \ref{taba1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/430/165}
| The Indo-US Library of Coudé Feed Stellar Spectra
We have obtained spectra for 1273 stars using the 0.9 m coudéfeed telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. This telescope feedsthe coudé spectrograph of the 2.1 m telescope. The spectra havebeen obtained with the no. 5 camera of the coudé spectrograph anda Loral 3K×1K CCD. Two gratings have been used to provide spectralcoverage from 3460 to 9464 Å, at a resolution of ~1 Å FWHMand at an original dispersion of 0.44 Å pixel-1. For885 stars we have complete spectra over the entire 3460 to 9464 Åwavelength region (neglecting small gaps of less than 50 Å), andpartial spectral coverage for the remaining stars. The 1273 stars havebeen selected to provide broad coverage of the atmospheric parametersTeff, logg, and [Fe/H], as well as spectral type. The goal ofthe project is to provide a comprehensive library of stellar spectra foruse in the automated classification of stellar and galaxy spectra and ingalaxy population synthesis. In this paper we discuss thecharacteristics of the spectral library, viz., details of theobservations, data reduction procedures, and selection of stars. We alsopresent a few illustrations of the quality and information available inthe spectra. The first version of the complete spectral library is nowpublicly available from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory(NOAO) via ftp and http.
| Synthetic Lick Indices and Detection of α-enhanced Stars. II. F, G, and K Stars in the -1.0 < [Fe/H] < +0.50 Range
We present an analysis of 402 F, G, and K solar neighborhood stars, withaccurate estimates of [Fe/H] in the range -1.0 to +0.5 dex, aimed at thedetection of α-enhanced stars and at the investigation of theirkinematical properties. The analysis is based on the comparison of 571sets of spectral indices in the Lick/IDS system, coming from fourdifferent observational data sets, with synthetic indices computed withsolar-scaled abundances and with α-element enhancement. We useselected combinations of indices to single out α-enhanced starswithout requiring previous knowledge of their main atmosphericparameters. By applying this approach to the total data set, we obtain alist of 60 bona fide α-enhanced stars and of 146 stars withsolar-scaled abundances. The properties of the detected α-enhancedand solar-scaled abundance stars with respect to their [Fe/H] values andkinematics are presented. A clear kinematic distinction betweensolar-scaled and α-enhanced stars was found, although a one-to-onecorrespondence to ``thin disk'' and ``thick disk'' components cannot besupported with the present data.
| Synthetic Lick Indices and Detection of α-Enhanced Stars
Synthetic Lick indices computed with solar scaled abundances and withα-element enhancement are presented and compared with predictionsfrom both theoretical computations (Tripicco & Bell; Thomas,Maraston, & Bender; Barbuy et al.) and empirical fitting functions(de Freitas Pacheco). We propose selected combinations of indicescapable of singling out α-enhanced stars without requiringprevious knowledge of their main atmospheric parameters. By applyingthis approach to the 460 stars in the Worthey et al. catalog, wedetected a list of 82 candidate α-enhanced stars. The confirmationof α-enhancement was obtained by searching the literature forindividual element abundance determinations from high-resolutionspectroscopy for a subsample of 34 stars. Preliminary discussion of theproperties of the detected α-enhanced stars with respect to their[Fe/H] values and kinematics is presented.
| The Metal Abundances of NGC 188 and NGC 6791 from Low-Resolution Spectra
Analysis of low-resolution spectra of K giants in the old open clustersNGC 188 and NGC 6791 yields [Fe/H]=0.075+/-0.045+/-σsysfor NGC 188 and [Fe/H]=0.320+/-0.023+/-σsys for NGC6791. The term σsys represents the drift between ourunderlying star catalog's abundance scale and the true abundance scale.Star R23 in NGC 6791 has [Fe/H]>0.6 according to our analysis anddeserves further study.
| A Study of the Direct Fitting Method for Measurement of Galaxy Velocity Dispersions
We have measured the central stellar velocity dispersions of 33 nearbyspiral and elliptical galaxies, using a straightforward template-fittingalgorithm operating in the pixel domain. The spectra, obtained with theDouble Spectrograph at Palomar Observatory, cover both the Ca tripletand the Mg I b region, and we present a comparison of the velocitydispersion measurements from these two spectral regions. Model fits tothe Ca triplet region generally yield good results, with littlesensitivity to the choice of template star. In contrast, the Mg I bregion is more sensitive to template mismatch and to details of thefitting procedure, such as the order of a polynomial used to match thecontinuum shape of the template to the object. As a consequence of thecorrelation of the [Mg/Fe] ratio with velocity dispersion, it isdifficult to obtain a satisfactory model fit to the Mg I b lines and thesurrounding Fe blends simultaneously, particularly for giant ellipticalgalaxies with large velocity dispersions. We demonstrate that if themetallicities of the galaxy and template star are not well matched, thendirect template-fitting results are improved if the Mg I b linesthemselves are excluded from the fit and the velocity dispersion isdetermined from the surrounding weaker lines.
| A Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of Dwarf and Giant Galaxies in the Coma Cluster. III. Spectral Ages and Metallicities
We present a detailed analysis of the spectroscopic catalog of galaxiesin the Coma Cluster from Mobasher et al. (Paper II of the series). Thiscatalog comprises ~300 spectra of cluster members with absolutemagnitudes in the range MB=-20.5 to -14 in two areas of~1×1.5 Mpc toward the center and the southwest region of thecluster. In order to study the star formation and metallicity propertiesof the Coma galaxies as a function of their luminosity and environment,spectral indices of the Lick/IDS system and equivalent widths of theemission lines were measured in the range λ=3600-6600 Å. Inthis paper, the analysis is restricted to the 257 galaxies with noemission lines in their spectra. The strength of the age-sensitiveindices (such as Hβ, HγF, andHδF) is found to correlate with galaxy magnitude overthe whole magnitude range explored in this study. Similarly, themetallicity-sensitive indices (such as Mg2, , andC24668) anticorrelate with magnitude. By comparing theobserved indices with model grids based on the Padova isochrones, wederive luminosity-weighted ages and metallicities. We present thedistributions of ages and metallicities for galaxies in variousmagnitude bins. The mean metallicity decreases with galaxy magnitudeand, at a given luminosity, appears to be generally lower for galaxiesin the southwest region of Coma as compared to the center of thecluster. A broad range of ages, from younger than 3 Gyr to older than 9Gyr, is found in galaxies of any magnitude. However, systematic trendsof age with luminosity are present among galaxies in the central field,including a slight decrease of the mean age for fainter galaxies.Furthermore, in the central Mpc of Coma, a large fraction of galaxies atany luminosity (50%-60% of the giants, more than 30% of the dwarfs) showno evidence in their central regions of star formation occurred atredshift z<2, while the proportion of galaxies with significant starformation occurring at intermediate (0.35
| Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521
| Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part III. Additional fundamental stars with direct solutions
The FK6 is a suitable combination of the results of the HIPPARCOSastrometry satellite with ground-based data, measured over a longinterval of time and summarized mainly in the FK5. Part III of the FK6(abbreviated FK6(III)) contains additional fundamental stars with directsolutions. Such direct solutions are appropriate for single stars or forobjects which can be treated like single stars. Part III of the FK6contains in total 3272 stars. Their ground-based data stem from thebright extension of the FK5 (735 stars), from the catalogue of remainingSup stars (RSup, 732 stars), and from the faint extension of the FK5(1805 stars). From the 3272 stars in Part III, we have selected 1928objects as "astrometrically excellent stars", since their instantaneousproper motions and their mean (time-averaged) ones do not differsignificantly. Hence most of the astrometrically excellent stars arewell-behaving "single-star candidates" with good astrometric data. Thesestars are most suited for high-precision astrometry. On the other hand,354 of the stars in Part III are Δμ binaries in the sense ofWielen et al. (1999). Many of them are newly discovered probablebinaries with no other hitherto known indication of binarity. The FK6gives, besides the classical "single-star mode" solutions (SI mode),other solutions which take into account the fact that hidden astrometricbinaries among "apparently single-stars" introduce sizable "cosmicerrors" into the quasi-instantaneously measured HIPPARCOS proper motionsand positions. The FK6 gives, in addition to the SI mode, the "long-termprediction (LTP) mode" and the "short-term prediction (STP) mode". TheseLTP and STP modes are on average the most precise solutions forapparently single stars, depending on the epoch difference with respectto the HIPPARCOS epoch of about 1991. The typical mean error of anFK6(III) proper motion in the single-star mode is 0.59 mas/year. This isa factor of 1.34 better than the typical HIPPARCOS errors for thesestars of 0.79 mas/year. In the long-term prediction mode, in whichcosmic errors are taken into account, the FK6(III) proper motions have atypical mean error of 0.93 mas/year, which is by a factor of about 2better than the corresponding error for the HIPPARCOS values of 1.83mas/year (cosmic errors included).
| Rotation and lithium in single giant stars
In the present work, we study the link between rotation and lithiumabundance in giant stars of luminosity class III, on the basis of alarge sample of 309 single stars of spectral type F, G and K. We havefound a trend for a link between the discontinuity in rotation at thespectral type G0III and the behavior of lithium abundances around thesame spectral type. The present work also shows that giant starspresenting the highest lithium contents, typically stars earlier thanG0III, are those with the highest rotation rates, pointing for adependence of lithium content on rotation, as observed for otherluminosity classes. Giant stars later than G0III present, as a rule, thelowest rotation rates and lithium contents. A large spread of about fivemagnitudes in lithium abundance is observed for the slow rotators.Finally, single giant stars with masses 1.5 < M/Msun<=2.5 show a clearest trend for a correlation between rotational velocityand lithium abundance. Based on observations collected at theObservatoire de Haute -- Provence (France) and at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla (Chile). Table 2 is only available electronicallywith the On-Line publication athttp://link.springer.de/link/service/00230/
| The Double Nucleus and Central Black Hole of M31
New spectroscopy of M31 supports Tremaine's model in which both nucleiare parts of a single eccentric disk of stars orbiting the black hole(BH). The kinematics and Hubble Space Telescope photometry are used tomeasure the offset of the BH from the center of mass. This confirms thatthe BH mass is ~3x10^7 M_solar by a technique that is nearly independentof stellar-dynamical models. We present spectroscopy of the nucleus ofM31 obtained with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and SubarcsecondImaging Spectrograph. Spectra at the Ca infrared triplet lines (seeingsigma_*=0.27") are used to measure the stellar kinematics, and spectraat the Mg I b lines (sigma_*=0.31") are used to measure metallicities.We also measure nonparametric line-of-sight velocity distributions(LOSVDs). All spectra confirm the steep rotation and velocity dispersiongradients that imply that M31 contains a 3.3x10^7 M_solar central darkobject. At sigma_*=0.27", the maximum bulge-subtracted rotation velocityof the nucleus is 233+/-4 km s^-1 on the P2 side, and the maximumvelocity dispersion is 287+/-9 km s^-1. The dispersion peak is displacedby 0.20"+/-0.03" from the velocity center in the direction opposite toP1, confirming a result by Bacon and coworkers. The higher surfacebrightness nucleus, P1, is colder than the bulge, with sigma~=100 kms^-1 at r~=1^''. Cold light from P1 contributes at the velocity center;this explains part of the sigma(r) asymmetry. The nucleus is cold atr>~1^'' on both sides of the center. Our results are used to testTremaine's model in which the double nucleus is a single eccentric diskof stars orbiting the BH. (1) The model predicts that the velocitycenter of the nucleus is displaced by 0.2" from P2 toward P1. Ourobservations show a displacement of 0.08"+/-0.01" before bulgesubtraction and 0.10"+/-0.01" after bulge subtraction. (2) The modelpredicts a minimum sigma~=135 km s^-1 at P1. We observe sigma=123+/-2 kms^-1. Observations (1) and (2) may be reconciled with the model if itsparameters are tweaked so that the orbital eccentricity is made largerand the orientation of the orbits is made to point more nearly at us.(3) The model rotation curve is asymmetric; at perfect resolution, V is60 km s^-1 higher on the P2 side than on the P1 side. At sigma_*=0.27",we observe an asymmetry of 54+/-4 km s^-1 after bulge subtraction. Weregard this as confirmation of the model's essential idea that stellarorbits are eccentric and coherently aligned. (4) The model predicts thatP1 and P2 should have the same stellar population. We confirm this: P1is more similar to P2 than it is to the bulge or to a globular clusteror to M32. This makes it unlikely that P1 consists of accreted stars.(5) Our observation that there is cold light on both sides of the centerimplies, if the nucleus is an eccentric disk, that some stars haveescaped from the P1-P2 alignment and have phase-mixed around thegalaxy's center. The dispersion peak coincides with a cluster ofultraviolet-bright stars seen in Hubble Space Telescope images. Wepropose that the BH is in this cluster. Its center is displaced by0.068"+/-0.010" from the bulge center. If we put a 3.3x10^7 M_solar darkobject in the UV cluster and adopt the dynamically determinedmass-to-light ratio of the stars, then the center of mass (COM) of thebulge, nucleus, and dark object coincides with the bulge center towithin 0.017"+/-0.016". The COM also agrees with the velocity center ofthe bulge and outer nucleus. Therefore, the asymmetry of the stars inthe double nucleus supports our suggestion that the BH is in the UVcluster. If the stars have a normal mass-to-light ratio, then thelocation of the COM also confirms the mass of the BH, largelyindependent of dynamical models. Tremaine's model implies that any darkcluster alternative to a BH is less than 0.13"+/-0.03"=0.49 pc inradius. The observed mass-to-light ratio is M/L_V~=300 in a cylinder ofradius r=0.13" and M/L_V~=2200 in a sphere of radius r=0.13". This ismuch larger than previous measurements of M/L_V. This result and the COMargument greatly strengthen the detection of a central dark object inM31.
| Fundamental plane distances to early-type field galaxies in the South Equatorial Strip. I. The spectroscopic data
Radial velocities and central velocity dispersions are derived for 238E/S0 galaxies from medium-resolution spectroscopy. New spectroscopicdata have been obtained as part of a study of the Fundamental Planedistances and peculiar motions of early-type galaxies in three selecteddirections of the South Equatorial Strip, undertaken in order toinvestigate the reality of large-scale streaming motion; results of thisstudy have been reported in Müller et al. (1998). The new APM SouthEquatorial Strip Catalog (-17fdg 5 < delta < +2fdg 5) was used toselect the sample of field galaxies in three directions: (1) 15h10 -16h10; (2) 20h30 - 21h50; (3) 00h10 - 01h30. The spectra obtained have amedian S/N per Å of 23, an instrumental resolution (FWHM) of ~ 4Å, and the spectrograph resolution (dispersion) is ~ 100 kms-1. The Fourier cross-correlation method was used to derivethe radial velocities and velocity dispersions. The velocity dispersionshave been corrected for the size of the aperture and for the galaxyeffective radius. Comparisons of the derived radial velocities with datafrom the literature show that our values are accurate to 40 kms-1. A comparison with results from Jo rgensen et al. (1995)shows that the derived central velocity dispersion have an rms scatterof 0.036 in log sigma . There is no offset relative to the velocitydispersions of Davies et al. (1987).
| A catalog of rotational and radial velocities for evolved stars
Rotational and radial velocities have been measured for about 2000evolved stars of luminosity classes IV, III, II and Ib covering thespectral region F, G and K. The survey was carried out with the CORAVELspectrometer. The precision for the radial velocities is better than0.30 km s-1, whereas for the rotational velocity measurementsthe uncertainties are typically 1.0 km s-1 for subgiants andgiants and 2.0 km s-1 for class II giants and Ib supergiants.These data will add constraints to studies of the rotational behaviourof evolved stars as well as solid informations concerning the presenceof external rotational brakes, tidal interactions in evolved binarysystems and on the link between rotation, chemical abundance and stellaractivity. In this paper we present the rotational velocity v sin i andthe mean radial velocity for the stars of luminosity classes IV, III andII. Based on observations collected at the Haute--Provence Observatory,Saint--Michel, France and at the European Southern Observatory, LaSilla, Chile. Table \ref{tab5} also available in electronic form at CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Empirical calibration of the lambda 4000 Å break
Empirical fitting functions, describing the behaviour of the lambda 4000Ä break, D4000, in terms of effective temperature,metallicity and surface gravity, are presented. For this purpose, thebreak has been measured in 392 stars from the Lick/IDS Library. We havefollowed a very detailed error treatment in the reduction and fittingprocedures, allowing for a reliable estimation of the breakuncertainties. This calibration can be easily incorporated into stellarpopulation models to provide accurate predictions of the break amplitudefor, relatively old, composite systems. Table 1 is only available inelectronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Absolute declinations with the photoelectric astrolabe at Calern Observatory (OCA)
A regular observational programme with a photoelectric astrolabe havebeen performed at ``Observatoire du Calern" (Observatoire de laCôte d'Azur, OCA, phi = +43() o44′55.011″; lambda =-0() h27() m42.44() s, Calern, Caussols, France) for the last twentyyears. It has been almost fully automatized between 1984 and 1987. Since1988 the photoelectric astrolabe was used without any modification. Inaddition to determining the daily orientation of the local vertical, theyearly analysis of the residuals permits to derive corrections to theused star catalogue \cite[(Vigouroux et al. 1992)]{vig92}. A globalreduction method was applied for the ASPHO observations. The new form ofthe equations \cite[(Martin & Leister 1997)]{mar97} give us thepossibility of using the entire set of the observing program using datataken at two zenith distances (30() o and 45() o). The program containsabout 41648 stars' transits of 269 different stars taken at``Observatoire du Calern" (OCA). The reduction was based on theHIPPARCOS system. We discuss the possibility of computing absolutedeclinations through stars belonging simultaneously to the 30() o and45() o zenith distances programmes. The absolute declination correctionswere determined for 185 stars with precision of 0.027arcsec and thevalue of the determined equator correction is -0.018arcsec +/-0.005arcsec . The instrumental effects were also determined. The meanepoch is 1995.29. Catalogue only available at CDS in electronic from viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Catalogs of temperatures and [Fe/H] averages for evolved G and K stars
A catalog of mean values of [Fe/H] for evolved G and K stars isdescribed. The zero point for the catalog entries has been establishedby using differential analyses. Literature sources for those entries areincluded in the catalog. The mean values are given with rms errors andnumbers of degrees of freedom, and a simple example of the use of thesestatistical data is given. For a number of the stars with entries in thecatalog, temperatures have been determined. A separate catalogcontaining those data is briefly described. Catalog only available atthe CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Integrated Ultraviolet Spectra and Line Indices of M31 Globular Clusters and the Cores of Elliptical Galaxies
We present observations of the integrated light of four M31 globularclusters (MIV, MII, K280, and K58) and of the cores of six ellipticalgalaxies (NGC 3605, 3608, 5018, 5831, 6127, and 7619) made with theFaint Object Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The spectracover the range 2200-4800 Å at a resolution of 8 Å withsignal-to-noise ratio of more than 20 and flux accuracy of ~5%. To thesedata we add from the literature IUE observations of the dwarf ellipticalgalaxy M32, Galactic globular clusters, and Galactic stars. The stellarpopulations in these systems are analyzed with the aid of mid-UV andnear-UV colors and absorption line strengths. Included in the measuredindices is the key NH feature at 3360 Å. We compare these lineindex measures with the 2600 - 3000 colors of these stars and stellarpopulations. We find that the M31 globular clusters, Galactic globularclusters/Galactic stars, and elliptical galaxies represent threedistinct stellar populations, based on their behavior in color-linestrength correlations involving Mg II, NH, CN, and several UV metallicblends. In particular, the M31 globular cluster MIV, as metal-poor asthe Galactic globular M92, shows a strong NH 3360 Å feature. Otherline indices, including the 3096 Å blend that is dominated bylines of Mg I and Al I, show intrinsic differences as well. We also findthat the broadband line indices often employed to measure stellarpopulation differences in faint objects, such as the 4000 Å andthe Mg 2800 breaks, are disappointingly insensitive to these stellarpopulation differences. We find that the hot (T > 20,000 K) stellarcomponent responsible for the ``UV upturn'' at shorter wavelengths canhave an important influence on the mid-UV spectral range (2400-3200Å) as well. The hot component can contribute over 50% of the fluxat 2600 Å in some cases and affects both continuum colors and linestrengths. Mid-UV spectra of galaxies must be corrected for this effectbefore they can be used as age and abundance diagnostics. Of the threestellar populations studied here, M31 globular clusters and ellipticalgalaxies are more similar to each other than either is to the Galacticstellar populations defined by globular clusters and nearby stars.Similarities between the abundance-pattern differences currentlyidentified among these stellar populations and those among globularcluster stars (N, Al enhancements) present a curious coincidence thatdeserves future investigation. Based on observations with the NASA/ESAHubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope ScienceInstitute, which is operated by the Association of Universities forResearch in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.
| H gamma and H delta Absorption Features in Stars and Stellar Populations
The H gamma and H delta absorption features are measured in a sample of455 (out of an original 460) Lick/IDS stars with pseudo--equivalentwidth indices. For each Balmer feature, two definitions, involving anarrow (~20 Angstroms) and a wide (~40 Angstroms) central bandpass, aremeasured. These four new Balmer indices augment 21 indices previouslydetermined by Worthey et al., and polynomial fitting functions that giveindex strengths as a function of stellar temperature, gravity, and[Fe/H] are provided. The new indices are folded into models for theintegrated light of stellar populations, and predictions are given forsingle-burst stellar populations of a variety of ages and metallicities.Contrary to our initial hopes, the indices cannot break a degeneracybetween burst age and burst strength in post-starburst objects, but theyare successful mean-age indicators when used with sensitive metallicityindicators. An appendix gives data, advice, and examples of how totransform new spectra to the 25-index Lick/IDS system.
| The Stellar Populations of Spiral Disks.I.A New Observational Approach: Description of the Technique and Spectral Gradients for the Inter-Arm Regions of NGC 4321 (M100)
We describe an imaging method that makes use of interference filters toprovide integrated stellar spectral indices for spiral disks to faintsurface brightness limits. We use filters with bandpasses { ~ 60Angstroms\ }FWHM, centered on the Mg and Fe features (lambda lambda 5176Angstroms \ and 5270 Angstroms respectively) allowing the determinationof the spatial distribution of the Lick indices Mg2 andFe5270. These two indices have been extensively modeled by differentgroups and used in the past mainly for the study of elliptical galaxies,bulges, and globular clusters. Azimuthal integration of the underlyingsmooth stellar signal, after removal of the signature of the spiral armsand associated extreme pop. I structures, provides measurements of thesespectral indices useful to radial distances where the surface brightnessof the galaxy reaches ~ 24mu_V . As a first example of this techniqueand its possibilities we conduct a preliminary study of the SABbc galaxyNGC 4321 (M 100). We present spectral gradients for the inter-armstellar population to about 4 exponential scale lengths. There is someevidence for a discontinuity in the run of the Mg2 index nearcorotation, which we interpret as evidence for bar- driven secularevolution. There is also evidence that Mg is overabundant with respectto Fe in the inner regions of the projected image.
| Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
| Old stellar populations. 5: Absorption feature indices for the complete LICK/IDS sample of stars
Twenty-one optical absorption features, 11 of which have been previouslydefined, are automatically measured in a sample of 460 stars. FollowingGorgas et al., the indices are summarized in fitting functions that giveindex strengths as functions of stellar temperature, gravity, and(Fe/H). This project was carried out with the purpose of predictingindex strengths in the integrated light of stellar populations ofdifferent ages and metallicities, but the data should be valuable forstellar studies in the Galaxy as well. Several of the new indices appearto be promising indicators of metallicity for old stellar populations. Acomplete list of index data and atmospheric parameters is available incomputer-readable form.
| Old stellar populations. IV - Empirical functions for features in the spectra of G and K stars
Empirical fitting functions are derived for 11 atomic and molecularfeatures prominent in the spectra of G and K stars. The fitting behaviorclosely mimics that expected from the physics of stellar atmospheres,except for the index CN (4150 A), for which only minimal evidence isfound for traditional gravity effects but strong evidence forevolutionary mixing of CNO products to the stellar surface. This findingis important for modeling the integrated CN indices of external stellarpopulations.
| Spectral synthesis in the ultraviolet. IV - A library of mean stellar groups
A library of mean UV stellar energy distributions is derived from IUEspectrophotometry of 218 stars. The spectra cover 1230-3200 A with aspectral resolution of about 6 A. They have been corrected forinterstellar extinction and converted to a common flux and wavelengthscale. Individual stars were combined into standard groups according totheir continuum colors, observed UV spectral morphology, MK luminosityclass, and metal abundance. The library consists of 56 groups: 21dwarf(V), 8 subgiant(IV), 16 giant(III), and supergiant(I + II) groups,covering O3-M4 spectral types. A metal-poor sequence is included,containing four dwarf and two giant groups, as is a metal-enhancedsequence with a single dwarf, subgiant, and giant group. Spectralindices characterizing the continuum and several strong absorptionfeatures are examined as temperature, luminosity, and abundancediagnostics. The library is intended to serve as a basis forinterpreting the composite UV spectra of a wide variety of stellarsystems, e.g., elliptical galaxies, starburst systems, and high-redshiftgalaxies.
| Fifth fundamental catalogue. Part 2: The FK5 extension - new fundamental stars
The mean positions and proper motions for 3117 new fundamental starsessentially in the magnitude range about 4.5 to 9.5 are given in thisFK5 extension. Mean apparent visual magnitude is 7.2 and is on average2.5 magnitudes fainter then the basic FK5 which has a mean magnitude of4.7. (The basic FK5 gives the mean positions and proper motions for theclassical 1535 fundamental stars). The following are discussed: theobservational material, reduction of observations, star selection, andthe system for the FK5 extension. An explanation and description of thecatalog are given. The catalog of 3117 fundamental stars for the equinoxand epoch J2000.0 and B1950.0 is presented. The parallaxes and radialvelocities for 22 extension stars with large forecasting effects aregiven. Catalogs used in the compilation of the FK5 fundamental catalogare listed.
| A critical appraisal of published values of (Fe/H) for K II-IV stars
'Primary' (Fe/H) averages are presented for 373 evolved K stars ofluminosity classes II-IV and (Fe/H) values beween -0.9 and +0.21 dex.The data define a 'consensus' zero point with a precision of + or -0.018 dex and have rms errors per datum which are typically 0.08-0.16dex. The primary data base makes recalibration possible for the large(Fe/H) catalogs of Hansen and Kjaergaard (1971) and Brown et al. (1989).A set of (Fe/H) standard stars and a new DDO calibration are given whichhave rms of 0.07 dex or less for the standard star data. For normal Kgiants, CN-based values of (Fe/H) turn out to be more precise than manyhigh-dispersion results. Some zero-point errors in the latter are alsofound and new examples of continuum-placement problems appear. Thushigh-dispersion results are not invariably superior to photometricmetallicities. A review of high-dispersion and related work onsupermetallicity in K III-IV star is also given.
| Spectral synthesis in the ultraviolet. III - The spectral morphology of normal stars in the mid-ultraviolet
The morphology of 218 mid-UV spectra of stars ranging from O through Kin spectral type is examined. Several new line and continuum indices aredefined and their usefulness as temperature, luminosity, and metallicitydiscriminants is discussed. Mid-UV stellar continua are found to bemarkedly affected by abundance. A UV excess, delta(2600-V), is computedwhich is more sensitive by a factor of 10 to (Fe/H) than is delta(U-B).The relative strength of spectral lines in the mid-UV is not as stronglyaffected by abundance. Mid-UV spectra are much more sensitive to thetemperature of the stellar population than to either metallicity or thedwarf/giant ratio. Mg II 2800 shows unexpected behavior, displaying nosensitivity to abundance for cool stars and a reversed sensitivity in FGdwarfs such that metal-poor stars have stronger Mg II strengths at thesame temperature than more metal-rich stars.
| Third preliminary catalogue of stars observed with the photoelectric astrolabe of the Beijing Astronomical Observatory.
Not Available
| A search for lithium-rich giant stars
Lithium abundances or upper limits have been determined for 644 brightG-K giant stars selected from the DDO photometric catalog. Two of thesegiants possess surface lithium abundances approaching the 'cosmic' valueof the interstellar medium and young main-sequence stars, and eight moregiants have Li contents far in excess of standard predictions. At leastsome of these Li-rich giants are shown to be evolved to the stage ofhaving convectively mixed envelopes, either from the direct evidence oflow surface carbon isotope ratios, or from the indirect evidence oftheir H-R diagram positions. Suggestions are given for the uniqueconditions that might have allowed these stars to produce or accrete newlithium for their surface layers, or simply to preserve from destructiontheir initial lithium contents. The lithium abundance of the remainingstars demonstrates that giants only very rarely meet the expectations ofstandard first dredge-up theories; the average extra Li destructionrequired is about 1.5 dex. The evolutionary states of these giants andtheir average masses are discussed briefly, and the Li distribution ofthe giants is compared to predictions of Galactic chemical evolution.
| Spectroscopy of metal-rich M31 globular clusters
Integrated CCD spectra in the 3850-4200 A region were obtained for ninemetal-rich globular clusters in M31. The spectra are analyzed using thereddening-free spectral-classification system of Rose (1984). The dataare combined with data obtained by Rose and Tripicco (1986) for ninemetal-rich Galactic globular clusters and with spectra of 72 stars withwell-determined atmospheric parameters. It is found that the 4000 Alight from metal rich M31 globulars is dominated by dwarfs, while giantsand dwarfs contribute equally to the light from the mean of themetal-rich Galactic globulars. The contribution of early-type stars tothe 400 A light from M31 clusters is less than 5 percent in most cases.Also, the 3883 and 4216 CN bands in the M31 globulars are very strongfor their integrated spectral types. The results suggest that themetal-rich M31 globular clusters are much younger than Galacticmetal-rich clusters like 47 Tuc or M71.
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Osservazione e dati astrometrici
| Costellazione: | Auriga |
| Ascensione retta: | 06h59m02.80s |
| Declinazione: | +38°03'08.0" |
| Magnitudine apparente: | 6 |
| Distanza: | 184.843 parsec |
| Moto proprio RA: | -42.8 |
| Moto proprio Dec: | -122.6 |
| B-T magnitude: | 7.603 |
| V-T magnitude: | 6.158 |
Cataloghi e designazioni:
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INHABITED SKY
