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The Determination of Reddening from Intrinsic VR Colors of RR Lyrae Stars
New R-band observations of 21 local field RR Lyrae variable stars areused to explore the reliability of minimum light (V - R) colors asa tool for measuring interstellar reddening. For each star, R-bandintensity mean magnitudes and light amplitudes are presented.Corresponding V-band light curves from the literature are supplementedwith the new photometry, and (V - R) colors at minimum light aredetermined for a subset of these stars as well as for other stars in theliterature. Two different definitions of minimum light color areexamined, one which uses a Fourier decomposition to the V and R lightcurves to find (V - R) at minimum V-band light, (V - R)F min, and the other which uses the average colorbetween the phase interval 0.5-0.8, (V -R)phi(0.5-0.8) min. From 31 stars with awide range of metallicities and pulsation periods, the mean dereddenedRR Lyrae color at minimum light is (V - R) F min,0 = 0.28 ± 0.02 mag and (V -R)phi(0.5-0.8) min,0 = 0.27 ± 0.02mag. As was found by Guldenschuh et al. using (V - I) colors, anydependence of the star's minimum light color on metallicity or pulsationamplitude is too weak to be formally detected. We find that theintrinsic (V - R) of Galactic bulge RR Lyrae stars are similar tothose found by their local counterparts and hence that bulge RR0 Lyraestars do not have anomalous colors as compared to the local RR Lyraestars.
| Automated Variable Star Classification Using the Northern Sky Variability Survey
We have identified 4659 variable objects in the Northern Sky VariabilitySurvey. We have classified each of these objects into one of the fivevariable star classes: (1) Algol/β Lyr systems includingsemidetached, and detached eclipsing binaries, (2) W Ursae Majorisovercontact and ellipsoidal variables, (3) long-period variables such asCepheid and Mira-type objects, (4) RR Lyr pulsating variables, and (5)short-period variables including δ Scuti stars. All the candidateshave outside of eclipse magnitudes of ~10-13. The primary classificationtool is the use of Fourier coefficients combined with period informationand light-curve properties to make the initial classification. Briefmanual inspection was done on all light curves to remove nonperiodicvariables that happened to slip through the process and to quantify anyerrors in the classification pipeline. We list the coordinates, period,Two Micron All Sky Survey colors, total amplitude variation, and anyprevious classification of the object. 548 objects previously identifiedas Algols in our previous paper are not included here.
| The luminosities and distance scales of type II Cepheid and RR Lyrae variables
Infrared and optical absolute magnitudes are derived for the type IICepheids κ Pav and VY Pyx using revised Hipparcos parallaxes andfor κ Pav, V553 Cen and SW Tau from pulsational parallaxes.Revised Hipparcos and HST parallaxes for RR Lyrae agree satisfactorilyand are combined in deriving absolute magnitudes. Phase-corrected J, Hand Ks mags are given for 142 Hipparcos RR Lyraes based onTwo-Micron All-Sky Survey observations. Pulsation and trigonometricalparallaxes for classical Cepheids are compared to establish the bestvalue for the projection factor (p) used in pulsational analyses.The MV of RR Lyrae itself is 0.16 +/- 0.12 mag brighter thanpredicted from an MV-[Fe/H] relation based on RR Lyrae starsin the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at a modulus of 18.39 +/- 0.05 asfound from classical Cepheids. This is consistent with the prediction ofCatelan & Cortés that it is overluminous for its metallicity.The results for the metal- and carbon-rich Galactic disc stars, V553 Cenand SW Tau, each with small internal errors (+/-0.08 mag) have a meandeviation of only 0.02 mag from the period-luminosity (PL) relationestablished by Matsunaga et al. for type II Cepheids in globularclusters and with a zero-point based on the same LMC-scale. Comparingdirectly the luminosities of these two stars with published data on typeII Cepheids in the LMC and in the Galactic bulge leads to an LMC modulusof 18.37 +/- 0.09 and a distance to the Galactic Centre of R0= 7.64 +/- 0.21kpc. The data for VY Pyx agree with these results withinthe uncertainties set by its parallax. Evidence is presented thatκ Pav may have a close companion and possible implications of thisare discussed. If the pulsational parallax of this star is incorporatedin the analyses, the distance scales just discussed will be increased by~0.15 +/- 0.15 mag. V553 Cen and SW Tau show that at optical wavelengthsPL relations are wider for field stars than for those in globularclusters. This is probably due to a narrower range of masses in thelatter case.
| Stellar evolution through the ages: period variations in galactic RRab stars as derived from the GEOS database and TAROT telescopes
Context: The theory of stellar evolution can be more closely tested ifwe have the opportunity to measure new quantities. Nowadays,observations of galactic RR Lyr stars are available on a time baselineexceeding 100 years. Therefore, we can exploit the possibility ofinvestigating period changes, continuing the pioneering work started byV. P. Tsesevich in 1969. Aims: We collected the available times ofmaximum brightness of the galactic RR Lyr stars in the GEOS RR Lyrdatabase. Moreover, we also started new observational projects,including surveys with automated telescopes, to characterise the O-Cdiagrams better. Methods: The database we built has proved to be a verypowerful tool for tracing the period variations through the ages. Weanalyzed 123 stars showing a clear O-C pattern (constant, parabolic orerratic) by means of different least-squares methods. Results: Clearevidence of period increases or decreases at constant rates has beenfound, suggesting evolutionary effects. The median values are β =+0.14 d Myr-1 for the 27 stars showing a period increase andβ = -0.20 d Myr-1 for the 21 stars showing a perioddecrease. The large number of RR Lyr stars showing a period decrease(i.e., blueward evolution) is a new and intriguing result. There is anexcess of RR Lyr stars showing large, positive β values. Moreover,the observed β values are slightly larger than those predicted bytheoretical models.Tables 3, 4, 5 and Figs. 2, 3 are only available in electronic form athttp://www.aanda.org
| The GEOS RR Lyr Survey
Not Available
| Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars in the Northern Sky Variability Survey
We use data from the Northern Sky Variability Survey (NSVS), obtainedfrom the first-generation Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment(ROTSE-I), to identify and study RR Lyrae variable stars in the solarneighborhood. We initially identified 1197 RRab (RR0) candidate starsbrighter than the ROTSE median magnitude V=14. Periods, amplitudes, andmean V magnitudes are determined for a subset of 1188 RRab stars withwell-defined light curves. Metallicities are determined for 589 stars bythe Fourier parameter method and by the relationship between period,amplitude, and [Fe/H]. We comment on the difficulties of clearlyclassifying RRc (RR1) variables in the NSVS data set. Distances to theRRab stars are calculated using an adopted luminosity-metallicityrelation with corrections for interstellar extinction. The 589 RRabstars in our final sample are used to study the properties of the RRabpopulation within 5 kpc of the Sun. The Bailey diagram of period versusamplitude shows that the largest component of this sample belongs toOosterhoff type I. Metal-rich ([Fe/H]>-1) RRab stars appear to beassociated with the Galactic disk. Our metal-rich RRab sample mayinclude a thin-disk, as well as a thick-disk population, although theuncertainties are too large to establish this. There is some evidenceamong the metal-rich RRab stars for a decline in scale height withincreasing [Fe/H], as was found by Layden. The distribution of RRabstars with -1<[Fe/H]<-1.25 indicates that within this metallicityrange the RRab stars are a mixture of stars belonging to halo and diskpopulations.
| The GEOS RR Lyr Survey
Not Available
| A catalogue of RR Lyrae stars from the Northern Sky Variability Survey
A search for RR Lyrae stars has been conducted in the publicly availabledata of the Northern Sky Variability Survey. Candidates have beenselected by the statistical properties of their variation; the standarddeviation, skewness and kurtosis with appropriate limits determined froma sample 314 known RRab and RRc stars listed in the General Catalogue ofVariable Stars. From the period analysis and light-curve shape of over3000 candidates 785 RR Lyrae have been identified of which 188 arepreviously unknown. The light curves were examined for the Blazhkoeffect and several new stars showing this were found. Six double-mode RRLyrae stars were also found of which two are new discoveries. Somepreviously known variables have been reclassified as RR Lyrae stars andsimilarly some RR Lyrae stars have been found to be other types ofvariable, or not variable at all.
| Photoelectric Minima of Selected Eclipsing Binaries and Maxima of Pulsating Stars
Not Available
| Proper identification of RR Lyrae stars brighter than 12.5 mag
RR Lyrae stars are of great importance for investigations of Galacticstructure. However, a complete compendium of all RR-Lyraes in the solarneighbourhood with accurate classifications and coordinates does notexist to this day. Here we present a catalogue of 561 local RR-Lyraestars (V_max ≤ 12.5 mag) according to the magnitudes given in theCombined General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) and 16 fainter ones.The Tycho2 catalogue contains ≃100 RR Lyr stars. However, manyobjects have inaccurate coordinates in the GCVS, the primary source ofvariable star information, so that a reliable cross-identification isdifficult. We identified RR Lyrae from both catalogues based on anintensive literature search. In dubious cases we carried out photometryof fields to identify the variable. Mennessier & Colome (2002,A&A, 390, 173) have published a paper with Tyc2-GCVSidentifications, but we found that many of their identifications arewrong.
| RR Lyrae stars: kinematics, orbits and z-distribution
RR Lyrae stars in the Milky Way are good tracers to study the kinematicbehaviour and spatial distribution of older stellar populations. Arecently established well documented sample of 217 RR Lyr stars withV<12.5 mag, for which accurate distances and radial velocities aswell as proper motions from the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 catalogues areavailable, has been used to reinvestigate these structural parameters.The kinematic parameters allowed to calculate the orbits of the stars.Nearly 1/3 of the stars of our sample have orbits staying near the MilkyWay plane. Of the 217 stars, 163 have halo-like orbits fulfilling one ofthe following criteria: Θ < 100 km s-1, orbiteccentricity >0.4, and normalized maximum orbital z-distance>0.45. Of these stars roughly half have retrograde orbits. Thez-distance probability distribution of this sample shows scale heightsof 1.3±0.1 kpc for the disk component and 4.6±0.3 kpc forthe halo component. With our orbit statistics method we found a(vertical) spatial distribution which, out to z=20 kpc, is similar tothat found with other methods. This distribution is also compatible withthe ones found for blue (HBA and sdB) halo stars. The circular velocityΘ, the orbit eccentricity, orbit z-extent and [Fe/H] are employedto look for possible correlations. If any, it is that the metal poorstars with [Fe/H] <1.0 have a wide symmetric distribution aboutΘ=0, thus for this subsample on average a motion independent ofdisk rotation. We conclude that the Milky Way possesses a halo componentof old and metal poor stars with a scale height of 4-5 kpc having randomorbits. The presence in our sample of a few metal poor stars (thus partof the halo population) with thin disk-like orbits is statistically notsurprising. The midplane density ratio of halo to disk stars is found tobe 0.16, a value very dependent on proper sample statistics.
| The GEOS RR Lyr Survey
Not Available
| Photoelectric Minima of Selected Eclipsing Binaries and Maxima of Pulsating Stars
Not Available
| Subsystems of RR Lyrae Variable Stars in Our Galaxy
We have used published, high-accuracy, ground-based and satelliteproper-motion measurements, a compilation of radial velocities, andphotometric distances to compute the spatial velocities and Galacticorbital elements for 174 RR Lyrae (ab) variable stars in the solarneighborhood. The computed orbital elements and published heavy-elementabundances are used to study relationships between the chemical,spatial, and kinematic characteristics of nearby RR Lyrae variables. Weobserve abrupt changes of the spatial and kinematic characteristics atthe metallicity [Fe/H]≈-0.95 and also when the residual spatialvelocities relative to the LSR cross the critical value V res≈290km/s. This provides evidence that the general population of RR Lyraestars is not uniform and includes at least three subsystems occupyingdifferent volumes in the Galaxy. Based on the agreement between typicalparameters for corresponding subsystems of RR Lyrae stars and globularclusters, we conclude that metal-rich stars and globular clusters belongto a rapidly rotating and fairly flat, thick-disk subsystem with a largenegative vertical metallicity gradient. Objects with larger metaldeficiencies can, in turn, be subdivided into two populations, but usingdifferent criteria for stars and clusters. We suggest that field starswith velocities below the critical value and clusters with extremelyblue horizontal branches form a spherical, slowly rotating subsystem ofthe protodisk halo, which has a common origin with the thick disk; thissubsystem has small but nonzero radial and vertical metallicitygradients. The dimensions of this subsystem, estimated from theapogalactic radii of orbits of field stars, are approximately the same.Field stars displaying more rapid motion and clusters with redderhorizontal branches constitute the spheroidal subsystem of the accretedouter halo, which is approximately a factor of three larger in size thanthe first two subsystems. It has no metallicity gradients; most of itsstars have eccentric orbits, many display retrograde motion in theGalaxy, and their ages are comparatively low, supporting the hypothesisthat the objects in this subsystem had an extragalactic origin.
| Distances and Metallicities of High- and Intermediate-Velocity Clouds
A table is presented that summarizes published absorption linemeasurements for the high- and intermediate-velocity clouds (HVCs andIVCs). New values are derived for N(H I) in the direction of observedprobes, in order to arrive at reliable abundances and abundance limits(the H I data are described in Paper II). Distances to stellar probesare revisited and calculated consistently, in order to derive distancebrackets or limits for many of the clouds, taking care to properlyinterpret nondetections. The main conclusions are the following. (1)Absolute abundances have been measured using lines of S II, N I, and OI, with the following resulting values: ~0.1 solar for one HVC (complexC), ~0.3 solar for the Magellanic Stream, ~0.5 solar for a southern IVC,and ~solar for two northern IVCs (the IV Arch and LLIV Arch). Finally,approximate values in the range 0.5-2 solar are found for three moreIVCs. (2) Depletion patterns in IVCs are like those in warm disk or halogas. (3) Most distance limits are based on strong UV lines of C II, SiII, and Mg II, a few on Ca II. Distance limits for major HVCs aregreater than 5 kpc, while distance brackets for several IVCs are in therange 0.5-2 kpc. (4) Mass limits for major IVCs are0.5-8×105 Msolar, but for major HVCs theyare more than 106 Msolar. (5) The Ca II/H I ratiovaries by up to a factor 2-5 within a single cloud, somewhat morebetween clouds. (6) The Na I/H I ratio varies by a factor of more than10 within a cloud, and even more between clouds. Thus, Ca II can beuseful for determining both lower and upper distance limits, but Na Ionly yields upper limits.
| Empirical relations for cluster RR Lyrae stars revisited
Our former study on the empirical relations between the Fourierparameters of the light curves of the fundamental mode RR Lyrae starsand their basic stellar parameters has been extended to considerablylarger data sets. The most significant contribution to the absolutemagnitude MV comes from the period P and from the firstFourier amplitude A1, but there are statistically significantcontributions also from additional higher order components, mostimportantly from A3 and in a lesser degree from the Fourierphase varphi51. When different colors are combined inreddening-free quantities, we obtain basically period-luminosity-colorrelations. Due to the log Teff(B-V,log g,[Fe/H]) relationfrom stellar atmosphere models, we would expect some dependence also onvarphi 31. Unfortunately, the data are still not extensiveand accurate enough to decipher clearly the small effect of this Fourierphase. However, with the aid of more accurate multicolor data on fieldvariables, we show that this Fourier phase should be present either inV-I or in B-V or in both. From the standard deviations of the variousregressions, an upper limit can be obtained on the overall inhomogeneityof the reddening in the individual clusters. This yields sigmaE(B-V)<~ 0.012 mag, which also implies an average minimumobservational error of sigmaV >~ 0.018 mag.
| Absolute Magnitudes and Kinematic Parameters of the Subsystem of RR Lyrae Variables
The statistical parallax technique is applied to a sample of 262 RRabLyrae variables with published photoelectric photometry, metallicities,and radial velocities and with measured absolute proper motions.Hipparcos, PPM, NPM, and the Four-Million Star Catalog (Volchkov et al.1992) were used as the sources of proper motions; the proper motionsfrom the last three catalogs were reduced to the Hipparcos system. Wedetermine parameters of the velocity distribution for halo [(U_0, V_0,W_0) = (-9 +/- 12, -214 +/- 10, -16 +/- 7) km/s and (sigma_U, sigma_V,sigma_W) = (164 +/- 11, 105 +/- 7, 95 +/- 7) km/s] and thick-disk [(U_0,V_0, W_0) = (-16 +/- 8, -41 +/- 7, -18 +/- 5) km/s and (sigma_U,sigma_V, sigma_W) = (53 +/- 9, 42 +/- 8, 26 +/- 5) km/s] RR Lyrae, aswell as the intensity-averaged absolute magnitude for RR Lyrae of thesepopulations: = 0.77 +/- 0.10 and = +1.11 +/-0.28 for the halo and thick-disk objects, respectively. The metallicitydependence of the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae is analyzed(=(0.76 +/- 0.12) + (0.26 +/- 0.26) x ([Fe/H] + 1.6) = 1.17 +0.26 x [Fe/H]). Our results are in satisfactory agreement with the_(RR)-[Fe/H] relation from Carney et al. (1992)(_(RR) = 1.01 + 0.15 x [Fe/H]) obtained by Baade-Wesselink'smethod. They provide evidence for a short distance scale: the LMCdistance modulus and the distance to the Galactic center are 18.22 +/-0.11 and 7.4 +/-±0.5 kpc, respectively. The zero point ofthe distance scale and the kinematic parameters of the RR Lyraepopulations are shown to be virtually independent of the source ofabsolute proper motions used and of whether they are reduced to theHipparcos system or not.
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Kinematics of Metal-poor Stars in the Galaxy. II. Proper Motions for a Large Nonkinematically Selected Sample
We present a revised catalog of 2106 Galactic stars, selected withoutkinematic bias and with available radial velocities, distance estimates,and metal abundances in the range -4.0<=[Fe/H]<=0.0. This updateof the 1995 Beers & Sommer-Larsen catalog includes newly derivedhomogeneous photometric distance estimates, revised radial velocitiesfor a number of stars with recently obtained high-resolution spectra,and refined metallicities for stars originally identified in the HKobjective-prism survey (which account for nearly half of the catalog)based on a recent recalibration. A subset of 1258 stars in this cataloghave available proper motions based on measurements obtained with theHipparcos astrometry satellite or taken from the updated AstrographicCatalogue (second epoch positions from either the Hubble Space TelescopeGuide Star Catalog or the Tycho Catalogue), the Yale/San Juan SouthernProper Motion Catalog 2.0, and the Lick Northern Proper Motion Catalog.Our present catalog includes 388 RR Lyrae variables (182 of which arenewly added), 38 variables of other types, and 1680 nonvariables, withdistances in the range 0.1 to 40 kpc.
| A New Analysis of RR Lyrae Kinematics in the Solar Neighborhood
Full space velocities are computed for a sample of 130 nearby RR Lyraevariables using both ground-based and Hipparcos proper motions. In manycases proper motions for the same star from multiple sources have beenaveraged to produce approximately a factor of 2 improvement in thetransverse space velocity errors. In most cases, this exceeds theaccuracy attained using Hipparcos proper motions alone. The velocityellipsoids computed for halo and thick-disk samples are in agreementwith those reported in previous studies. A distinct sample of thin-diskRR Lyrae variables has not been isolated, but there is kinematicevidence for some thin-disk contamination in our thick-disk samples.Using kinematic and spatial parameters, a sample of 21 stars with [Fe/H]< -1.0 and disklike kinematics have been isolated. From theirkinematics and spatial distribution we conclude that these starsrepresent a sample of RR Lyrae variables in the metal-weak tail of thethick disk that extends to [Fe/H] = -2.05. In the halo samples, thedistribution of V velocities is not Gaussian, even when the metal-weakthick-disk stars are removed. Possibly related, a plot of U and Wvelocities as a function of V velocity for the kinematically unbiasedhalo sample shows some curious structure. The cause of these kinematicanomalies is not clear. In addition, systematic changes to the distancescale within the range of currently accepted values of M_v(RR) are shownto significantly change the calculated halo kinematics. Fainter valuesof M_v(RR), such as those obtained by statistical parallax (~0.60 to0.70 at [Fe/H] = -1.9), result in local halo kinematics similar to thosereported in independent studies of halo kinematics, while brightervalues of M_v(RR), such as those obtained through recent analysis ofHipparcos subdwarf parallaxes (~0.30 to 0.40 at [Fe/H] = -1.9), resultin a halo with retrograde rotation and significantly enlarged velocitydispersions.
| The absolute magnitudes of RR Lyraes from HIPPARCOS parallaxes and proper motions
We have used HIPPARCOS proper motions and the method of StatisticalParallax to estimate the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. Inaddition we used the HIPPARCOS parallax of RR Lyrae itself to determineit's absolute magnitude. These two results are in excellent agreementwith each other and give a zero-point for the RR Lyrae M_v,[Fe/H]relation of 0.77+/-0.15 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. This zero-point is in goodagreement with that obtained recently by several groups usingBaade-Wesselink methods which, averaged over the results from thedifferent groups, gives M_v = 0.73+/-0.14 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. Taking theHIPPARCOS based zero-point and a value of 0.18+/-0.03 for the slope ofthe M_v,[Fe/H] relation from the literature we find firstly, thedistance modulus of the LMC is 18.26+/-0.15 and secondly, the mean ageof the Globular Clusters is 17.4+/-3.0 GYrs. These values are comparedwith recent estimates based on other "standard candles" that have alsobeen calibrated with HIPPARCOS data. It is clear that, in addition toastrophysical problems, there are also problems in the application ofHIPPARCOS data that are not yet fully understood. Table 1, whichcontains the basic data for the RR Lyraes, is available only at CDS. Itmay be retrieved via anonymous FTP at cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5)or via the Web at http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Early evolution of the Galactic halo revealed from Hipparcos observations of metal-poor stars
The kinematics of 122 red giant and 124 RR Lyrae stars in the solarneighborhood are studied using accurate measurements of their propermotions obtained by the Hipparcos astrometry satellite, combined withtheir published photometric distances, metal abundances, and radialvelocities. A majority of these sample stars have metal abundances of(Fe/H) = -1 or less and thus represent the old stellar populations inthe Galaxy. The halo component, with (Fe/H) = -1.6 or less, ischaracterized by a lack of systemic rotation and a radially elongatedvelocity ellipsoid. About 16 percent of such metal-poor stars have loworbital eccentricities, and we see no evidence of a correlation between(Fe/H) and e. Based on the model for the e-distribution of orbits, weshow that this fraction of low-e stars for (Fe/H) = -1.6 or less isexplained by the halo component alone, without introducing the extradisk component claimed by recent workers. This is also supported by theabsence of a significant change in the e-distribution with height fromthe Galactic plane. In the intermediate-metallicity range, we find thatstars with disklike kinematics have only modest effects on thedistributions of rotational velocities and e for the sample at absolutevalue of z less than 1 kpc. This disk component appears to constituteonly 10 percent for (Fe/H) between -1.6 and -1 and 20 percent for (Fe/H)between -1.4 and -1.
| Computation of the distance moduli of RR Lyrae stars from their light and colour curves.
We use B and V data of globular cluster variables to derive a formulafor the distance moduli of RRab stars. The method employs the Fourierdecomposition of the V light curve and the average B-V colour index. Byusing our former result for the V_0_ absolute magnitude, we also obtainan expression for the dereddened colour index. With the aid of the newformulae, the relative distance moduli can be estimated within an errorof <0.03mag. Although we also make an absolute calibration, it iscautioned that this may be more affected by possible systematic errorsoriginating mostly from the Baade-Wesselink magnitudes. On the basis ofthe scatter of the individual distance moduli computed with and withoutreddening correction, it is shown that inhomogeneous reddening plays arole in several clusters. By using our formulae we derive newexpressions for the I_c_ and K absolute magnitudes on a sample of starswhich contains mostly field stars with accurate photometry. As aby-product of this derivation we also give optimum estimations for theselective absorption coefficient R_V_. We show that the K absolutemagnitude contains important contribution also from the Fourierparameters, besides the well known dependence on the period. The I_c_absolute magnitude is superbly correlated with the Fourier parameters,which implies that this colour is a very good candidate for the accurateestimation of the absolute magnitude.
| High-Velocity Clouds
High-velocity clouds (HVCs) consist of neutral hydrogen (\HI) atvelocities incompatible with a simple model of differential galacticrotation; in practice one uses {the absolue value of} VLSR {greater orequal to} 90 km/s to define HVCs. This review describes the mainfeatures of the sky and velocity distributions, as well as the availableinformation on cloud properties, small-scale structure, velocitystructure, and observations other than in 21-cm emission. We show thatHVCs contain heavy elements and that the more prominent ones are morethan 2 kpc from the Galactic plane. We evaluate the hypotheses proposedfor their origin and reject those that account for only one or a fewHVCs. At least three different hypotheses are needed: one for theMagellanic Stream and possibly related clouds, one for the Outer ArmExtension, and one (or more) for the other HVCs. We discuss the evidencefor the accretion and the fountain model but cannot rule out either one.
| The Absolute Magnitude and Kinematics of RR Lyrae Stars Via Statistical Parallax
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2110L&db_key=AST
| Determination of [Fe/H] from the light curves of RR Lyrae stars.
We present an accurate and robust method for the calculation of [Fe/H]from the light curves of RRab stars. The method introduces aconsiderable improvement relative to our previously published formulae.First of all, it uses an improved and extended data base for the lightcurves and more accurate, very recent iron abundances. Secondly, the newdata base makes it possible to show that the basic relation between[Fe/H] and the Fourier parameters is linear and contains only the periodand one of the Fourier phases, most importantly φ_31_. Last but notleast, we derive interrelations among the Fourier parameters which helpus to filter out peculiar stars where more caution is needed inaccepting the calculated abundance. The applicability of the method isdemonstrated on independent samples of globular cluster stars.Peculiarities encountered in Blazhko variables and in some other casesare also discussed.
| The Ca+ abundance of HVC complex C
We report the first detection of Ca II H and K absorption in thehigh-velocity cloud complex C, the largest HVC. Absorption is detectedin the spectra of the quasar PG 1351+640 and of the Seyfert galaxy Mark290, at velocities of -163 and -137km/s (see fig.2). The implied Ca+abundances are about 2x10^-8^, or about 0.01 times the total solarCalcium abundance. This values lies near the middle of the range ofvalues found for other HVCs. The measured abundance will allow firmconclusions about the distance of complex C from the presence or absenceof its absoprtion in stellar spectra.
| Distance and metallicity limits of high-velocity clouds.
This paper presents results of a program to derive distances ofhigh-velocity clouds (HVCs) through measurement of absorption in theCaIIH and K lines. The problems of the method and their solutions arediscussed in detail. A probable detection of absorption toward theSeyfert galaxy Mark106 is reported, which gives a Ca^+^ abundance of(17+/-6)x10^-9^ in HVC complex A. The non-detection of CaII absorptionagainst a stellar probe sets a tentative lower limit of 1.6kpc to thedistance of complex A. Non-detections of HVC CaII lines in 9 starsprojected on complexes M, C and H may give distance limits, if theCa^+^/HI ratio in those HVCs can be derived from absorptions againstextra-galactic probes. High-resolution HI observations are required toget reliable Ca^+^ abundances. Westerbork HI synthesis observations arereported for several directions together with profiles obtained at theEffelsberg 100-meter dish. From results on several HVCs, we concludethat the Ca^+^/HI ratio may vary strongly between different HVCcomplexes.
| A new method for the determination of [Fe/H] in RR Lyrae stars.
The Fourier parameters of the V light curves of the field RRab stars areused to fit their [Fe/H]. The method is based on the assumption that theobserved light curves depend only on a few physical parameters,including the chemical composition. We give two formulae which estimatethe observed [Fe/H] with an accuracy of 0.23-0.18dex. Each of theseexpressions consists of a second order polynom of 2-4 Fourier parametersand the period. The method is a powerful tool in estimating themetallicity when spectroscopic data are not available.
| The metallicities and kinematics of RR Lyrae variables, 1: New observations of local stars
In order to study the structure and formation history of the galaxy, wehave obtained low-to-moderate dispersion spectra of 302 nearby RR Lyraevariables of Bailey type 'ab'. We derived abundances, typically accurateto 0.15-0.20 dex and calibrated to the Zinn & West (1984) globularcluster metallicity scale, from the pseudoequivalent widths of the Ca IIK, H delta, H gamma, and H beta lines. Radial velocities accurate tobetween 2 and 30 km/s were obtained from the spectra and from theliterature. Distances accurate to between 5% and 20% were derived frompublished apparent magnitudes and Burstein & Heiles (1982)reddenings. The metallicity distribution of the RR Lyrae stars peaks at(Fe/H)K approximately equals -1.5, and is narrower than thatof the Ryan & Norris (1991) subdwarfs, as expected since the mostmetal-rich and metal-poor progenitors preferentially appear as stablered and blue horizontal branch stars, rather than as RR Lyrae. Themetal-rich tail of the RR Lyrae distribution extends to(Fe/H)K approximately equals 0, and a qualitative analysis ofthe distribution of distances from the galactic plane shows that thestars in this tail (i.e., (Fe/H)K greater than -1.0) are moreconcentrated to the plane than the more metal-poor stars. The abundancedistribution of the local RR Lyrae stars is in excellent agreement withthe changing abundance distributions of distant RR Lyrae stars as afunction of galactocentric distance, as derived by Suntzeff et al.(1991), who ascribed this change to systematic variation in horizontalbranch morphology (probably age variations) with galactocentricdistance. The abundance distribution of the local RR Lyrae stars alsoagrees well with those of the distant RR Lyrae stars as a function ofdistance from the galactic plane. There is no evidence for an abundancegradient in this direction, suggesting that gaseous dissipation did notplay a major role in the formation of the outer halo.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Dragon |
| Right ascension: | 14h51m44.65s |
| Declination: | +60°04'09.0" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 11.498 |
| Proper motion RA: | 9 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -31.4 |
| B-T magnitude: | 11.822 |
| V-T magnitude: | 11.525 |
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