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The discovery of multiple stellar populations (multiple in the sense of inhomogeneous chemical abundances, with specific patterns of variations of a few light elements) in Galactic globular clusters and massive intermediate-age and old clusters in the Magellanic Clouds, both through spectroscopy and photometry, has led to a major change in our views about the formation of these objects. To date, none of the proposed scenarios are able to quantitatively explain all the chemical patterns observed in individual clusters. An extension of the study of multiple populations to resolved extragalactic massive clusters beyond the Magellanic Clouds would therefore be welcome, as it would enable the investigation and characterisation of the presence of multiple populations in different environments and age ranges. To this purpose, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can potentially play a major role. On the one hand, the JWST promises direct observations of proto-globular cluster candidates at high redshift, and on the other hand, it can potentially push the sample of resolved clusters with detected multiple populations to larger distances. In this paper we address this second goal. Using theoretical stellar spectra and stellar evolution models, we investigated the effect of multiple population chemical patterns on synthetic magnitudes in the JWST infrared NIRCam filters. We identified the colours (F150W − F460M), (F115W − F460M) and pseudocolours CF150W, F460M, F115W = (F150W − F460M)−(F460M − F115W), CF150W, F277W, F115W = (F150W − F277W)−(F277W − F115W), as diagnostics able to reveal the presence of multiple populations along the red giant branches of old and intermediate-age clusters. Using the available online simulator for the NIRCam detector, we estimated that multiple populations can be potentially detected – depending on the exposure times, exact filter combination used, and extent of the abundance variations and the cluster [Fe/H] – out to a distance of ∼5 Mpc (approximately the distance to the M83 group). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

M-dwarf stars provide very favourable conditions for finding habitable worlds beyond our solar system. The estimation of the fundamental parameters of the transiting exoplanets relies on the accuracy of the theoretical predictions for radius and effective temperature of the host M dwarf, therefore it is important to conduct multiple empirical tests of very low-mass star (VLM) models. These stars are the theoretical counterpart of M dwarfs. Recent determinations of mass, radius, and effective temperature of a sample of M dwarfs of known metallicity have disclosed an apparent discontinuity in the effective temperature-radius diagram that corresponds to a stellar mass of about 0.2 M⊙. This discontinuity has been ascribed to the transition from partially convective to fully convective stars. In this paper we compare existing VLM models to these observations, and find that theory does not predict any discontinuity at around 0.2 M⊙, but a smooth change in slope of the effective temperature-radius relationship around this mass value. The appearance of a discontinuity is due to naively fitting the empirical data with linear segments. Moreover, its origin is not related to the transition to fully convective structures. We find that this feature is instead an empirical signature for the transition to a regime where electron degeneracy provides an important contribution to the stellar equation of state, and it constitutes an additional test of the consistency of the theoretical framework for VLM models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use colour–magnitude diagram synthesis together with theoretical relations from non-linear pulsation models to approach the long-standing problem of the Oosterhoff dichotomy related to the distribution of the mean periods of fundamental RR Lyrae variables in globular clusters. By adopting the chemical composition determined from spectroscopic observations and a criterion to account for the hysteresis mechanism, we tuned age and mass loss to simultaneously reproduce the morphology of both the turn-off and the horizontal branch of a sample of 17 globular clusters of the Milky Way and of nearby dwarf galaxies in the crucial metallicity range (−1.9 < [Fe/H] < −1.4) where the Oostheroff transition is apparent. We find that the Oosterhoff dichotomy among Galactic globular clusters is naturally reproduced by models. The analysis of the relative impact of the various involved parameters indicates that the main responsibles of the dichotomy are the peculiar distribution of clusters in the age–metallicity plane and the hysteresis. In particular, there is a clear connection between the two main branches of the age–metallicity relation for Galactic globular clusters and the Oosterhoff groups. The properties of clusters’ RR Lyrae belonging to other Oostheroff groups (OoInt and OoIII) are instead not well reproduced. While for OoIII clusters a larger helium abundance for a fraction of the cluster's stars can reconcile the model prediction with observations, some other parameter affecting both the horizontal branch morphology and the RR Lyrae periods is required to reproduce the behaviour of OoInt clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We demonstrate that failure to properly account for stellar evolution can bias results in determinations of the spatial morphology of Galactic bulge stars, focusing on the question of whether or not the X-shape is more pronounced among the more metal-rich stars than among the metal-poor stars. We argue that this trend, a result recently claimed by three separate groups, may have been overestimated as it is relatively easier to detect a bimodality in the distance distribution function at higher metallicities. This is due to three factors. First, the intrinsic colour of red clump and red giant stars varies with metallicity, at the level d(V - I)RC/d[M/H] ≈ 0.25 mag dex−1, and thus the ratio of red clump to red giant stars within a spectroscopic sample will depend on the photometric selection of any investigation. Secondly, the duration of ascent of the red giant branch goes down and the red clump lifetime goes up as metallicity increases, which has the effect of increasing the ratio of red clump to red giant stars by as much as ∼33 per cent over the range of the bulge metallicity distribution function. Finally, over the same metallicity interval, the effective number of red giant branch bump stars is predicted to increase by ∼200 per cent, and their presence becomes degenerate with the observational parameters of the two red clumps, creating an illusory increase in signal to noise for a second peak in the distance modulus distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During these past decades, our knowledge of evolutionary and structural properties of stars of different mass and chemical composition is significantly improved. This result has been achieved as a consequence of our improved capability in understanding and describing the physical behaviour of matter in the different thermal regimes characteristic of the various stellar mass ranges and evolutionary stages. This notwithstanding, the current generation of stellar models is still affected by significant and, usually, not negligible uncertainties. These uncertainties are related to our poor knowledge of some physical proceses occurring in the real stars such as, for instance, some thermo-dynamical processes, nuclear reaction rates, as well as the efficiency of mixing processes. These drawbacks of stellar models have to be properly taken into account when comparing theory with observations in order to derive relevant information about the properties of both resolved and unresolved stellar populations. On the other hand, observations of both field and cluster stars can provide fundamental benchmarks for constraining the reliability and accuracy of the theoretical framework. In the following we review some important evolutionary and structural properties of very-low and low-mass stars, as well as the most important uncertainties affecting the stellar models for such stars. We show what are the main sources of uncertainty along the main evolutionary stages, and discuss the present level of agreement between theory and observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have computed low-mass stellar models and synthetic spectra for an initial chemical composition that includes the full C-N, O-Na, and Mg-Al abundance anticorrelations observed in second-generation stars belonging to a number of massive Galactic globular clusters. This investigation extends a previous study that addressed the effect of only the C-N and O-Na anticorrelations seen in all globulars observed to date. We find that the impact of Mg-Al abundance variations at fixed [Fe/H] and helium abundance is negligible on stellar models and isochrones (from the main sequence to the tip of the red giant branch) and bolometric corrections, when compared to the effect of C-N and O-Na variations. We identify a spectral feature at 490-520 nm, for low-mass main sequence stars, caused by MgH molecular bands. This feature has a vanishingly small effect on bolometric corrections for Johnson and Strömgren filters that cover that spectral range. However, specific narrow-band filters able to target this wavelength region can be powerful tools for investigating the Mg-poor unevolved stars and highlight possible splittings of the main sequence due to variations of Mg abundances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first investigation of the Blue Straggler star (BSS) population in two isolated dwarf spheroidal galaxies of the Local Group, Cetus and Tucana. Deep Hubble Space Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys photometry allowed us to identify samples of 940 and 1214 candidates, respectively. The analysis of the star formation histories of the two galaxies suggests that both host a population of BSSs. Specifically, if the BSS candidates are interpreted as young main sequence stars, they do not conform to their galaxy's age--metallicity relationship. The analysis of the luminosity function and the radial distributions supports this conclusion, and suggests a non-collisional mechanism for the BSS formation, from the evolution of primordial binaries. This scenario is also supported by the results of new dynamical simulations presented here. Both galaxies coincide with the relationship between the BSS frequency and the absolute visual magnitude Mv found by Momany et al. If this relationship is confirmed by larger sample, then it could be a valuable tool to discriminate between the presence of BSSs and galaxies hosting truly young populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We investigate the accuracy and reliability of the semi-empirical period–V -band luminosity–blue amplitude (PLA) relationship for ab-type RR Lyrae stars originally obtained by Castellani and De Santis in the mid-1990s. We infer that the zero-point of this relationship depends on the metallicity, by studying a sample of both field and cluster variables. We also show that the use of this relationship can still be useful for those stellar systems showing an intrinsic metallicity spread, since in this case the metallicity has a negligible effect on the final distance modulus estimate. We compare the adopted semi-empirical relationship with the fully empirical one recently provided by Kovács & Walker. When the zero-point of the latter relation is fixed consistently with the former one, the two equations are equivalent. By applying the semi-empirical period–V -band luminosity–blue amplitude relation, as well as the technique proposed recently by Cassisi, De Santis & Piersimoni, to the globular cluster ω Cen, we show that the empirical slope of the relationship between the mass of the fundamental RR Lyrae pulsators and their metallicity is in fair agreement with the one predicted by updated evolutionary models for horizontal branch stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an homogeneous evolutionary scenario for H- and He-burning low-mass stars by computing updated stellar models for a wide metallicity and age range [0.0002≤Z≤0.004 and 9≤t(Gyr)≤15 , respectively] suitable to study globular clusters. This theoretical scenario allows us to provide self-consistent predictions about the dependence of selected observational features of the colour–magnitude diagram, such as the brightness of the turn-off (TO), the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) and the red giant branch bump (BUMP), on the cluster metallicity and age. Taking into account these predictions, we introduce a new observable based on the visual magnitude difference between the TO and the ZAHB [ΔM[sub V](TO–ZAHB)] , and the TO and the BUMP [ΔM[sub V](TO–BUMP)], given by A=ΔM[sub V](TO–BUMP)–0.566ΔM[sub V](TO–ZAHB). We show that the parameter A does not depend at all on the cluster age, but that it does strongly depend on the cluster global metallicity. The calibration of the parameter A as a function of Z is then provided, as based on our evolutionary models. We tested the reliability of this result by also considering stellar models computed by other authors, employing different input physics. Eventually, we present clear evidence that the variation of ΔM[sub V](TO–BUMP) with ΔM[sub V](TO–ZAHB) does supply a powerful probe of the global metal abundance, at least when homogeneous theoretical frameworks are adopted. Specifically, we show that the extensive set of models by Vanden Berg et al. suggests a slightly different calibration of A versus Z calibration, which however provides global metallicities higher by only 0.08±0.06 dex with respect to the results from our computations. We provide an estimate of the global metallicity of 36 globular clusters in the Milky Way, based on our A–Z calibration, and a large observational data base of Galactic globular clusters. By considering the empirical [Fe/H] scales by both Zinn & West and Carretta & Gratton , we are able to provide an estimate of the α-element enhancement for all clusters in our sample. We show that the trend of [α/Fe] with respect to the iron content significantly depends on the adopted empirical [Fe/H] scale, with the Zinn & West one suggesting α-element enhancements in fine agreement with current spectroscopic measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By adopting the same approach outlined by De Santis & Cassisi, we evaluate the absolute bolometric magnitude of the zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) at the level of the RR Lyrae variable instability strip in selected Galactic globular clusters. This allows us to estimate the ZAHB absolute visual magnitude for these clusters and to investigate its dependence on the cluster metallicity. The derived M[sub V](ZAHB)–[Fe/H] relation, corrected in order to account for the luminosity difference between the ZAHB and the mean RR Lyrae magnitude, has been compared with some of the most recent empirical determinations in this field, such as the one provided by Baade–Wesselink analyses, RR Lyrae periods, Hipparcos data for field variables and main-sequence fitting based on Hipparcos parallaxes for field subdwarfs. As a result, our relation provides a clear support to the ‘long’ distance scale. We discuss also another method for measuring the distance to Galactic globular clusters. This method is quite similar to the one adopted for estimating the absolute bolometric magnitude of the ZAHB but it relies only on the pulsational properties of the Lyrae variables in each cluster. The reliability and accuracy of this method have been tested by applying it to a sample of globular clusters for which, owing to the morphology of their horizontal branch (HB), the use of the commonly adopted ZAHB fitting is a risky procedure. We notice that the two approaches for deriving the cluster distance modulus provide consistent results when applied to globular clusters, the RR Lyrae instability strip is well populated. As the adopted method relies on theoretical predictions on both the fundamental pulsational equation and the allowed mass range for fundamental pulsators, we give an estimate of the error affecting present results, owing to systematic uncertainties in the adopted theoretical framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We make use of the ‘Next Generation’ model atmospheres of Allard et al. and Hauschildt, Allard & Baron to compute theoretical models for low- and very-low-mass stars for selected metallicities in the range Z=0.0002 to 0.002. On this basis, we present theoretical predictions covering the sequence of H-burning stars as observed in Galactic globulars from the faint end of the main sequence up to, and beyond, the cluster turn-off. The role played by the new model atmospheres is discussed, showing that present models appear in excellent agreement with models by Baraffe et al. as computed on a quite similar physical basis. One finds that the theoretical mass–luminosity relations based on this updated set of models are in good agreement with the empirical data provided by Henry & McCarthy. Comparison with HST observation discloses that the location on the colour–magnitude diagram of the lower main sequence in Galactic globular clusters appears again in good agreement with the predicted sensitive dependence of these sequences on the cluster metallicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss an alternative approach to constrain the absolute bolometric luminosity of zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) structures by using the observational pulsational properties of ab-type RR Lyrae stars, theoretical relations connecting these properties to the evolutionary ones, i.e. luminosity, mass and effective temperature, and also the location in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram of the instability strip boundaries for fundamental pulsators. As the main goal of this work is to obtain an evaluation of the ZAHB bolometric luminosity as independent of stellar evolution theory as possible, we have minimized the use of evolutionary prescriptions, the only adopted evolutionary input being the allowed mass range for fundamental pulsators. Nevertheless, the effects on our final results related to these evolutionary prescriptions have been carefully checked. In order to test the accuracy of the current framework, we have carefully investigated the effective temperature scale provided by De Santis and adopted in the present work. It has been found that the pulsational colour–effective temperature scale fixed by this temperature scale and the relation between intrinsic (B-V)[sub 0] colour, blue amplitude and metallicity given by Caputo & De Santis appear fully consistent with both theoretical colour transformations, given by Castelli, Gratton & Kurucz and Buser & Kurucz, and a semi-empirical one, provided by Green. In contrast, there is a large discrepancy between this pulsational colour–temperature scale and the one based on the Kurucz model atmospheres. The effects of adopting the temperature scale of Catelan, Sweigart & Borissova have been investigated. The reliability of the method is shown by applying it to a selected sample of globular clusters (GCs), the heavy element abundances of which cover almost all the complete GC metallicity range. In order to verify the accuracy of the results obtained by using ab-type RR Lyrae stars, a similar analysis has also been performed by using both observational and theoretical evidence for first-overtone variables. The results obtained for the ZAHB bolometric luminosities have been critically analysed and a comparison with recent evolutionary prescriptions has also been performed. The existence of evident mismatches between current results and some evolutionary models has been verified and discussed. Finally, our investigation has been extended to field variables to check for a luminosity difference between cluster RR Lyrae stars and field ones as suggested by Gratton. The comparison between the pulsational properties of field and cluster variables does not show the existence of any significant difference in their intrinsic luminosity, thus providing further support to the results obtained by Catelan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent Gaia photometry of the open cluster M37 has disclosed the existence of an extended main sequence turn-off – like in Magellanic clusters younger than about 2 Gyr – and a main sequence that is broadened in colour beyond what is expected from the photometric errors, at magnitudes well below the region of the extended turn-off, where neither age differences nor rotation rates (the candidates to explain the extended turn-off phenomenon) are expected to play a role. Moreover, not even the contribution of unresolved binaries can fully explain the observed broadening. We investigated the reasons behind this broadening by making use of synthetic stellar populations and differential colour–colour diagrams, using a combination of Gaia and Sloan filters. From our analysis, we have concluded that the observed colour spread in the Gaia colour–magnitude diagram can be reproduced by a combination of either a metallicity spread |$\Delta \rm [Fe/H] \sim 0.15$| plus a differential reddening across the face of the cluster spanning a total range Δ E (B − V) ∼ 0.06, or a spread of the initial helium mass fraction Δ Y ∼ 0.10 plus a smaller range of reddening Δ E (B − V) ∼ 0.03. High-resolution differential abundance determinations of a sizeable sample of cluster stars are necessary to confirm or exclude the presence of a metal abundance spread. Our results raise the possibility that also individual open clusters, like globular clusters and massive star clusters, host stars born with different initial chemical compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact. The large quantity of high-quality asteroseismic data that have been obtained from space-based photometric missions and the accuracy of the resulting frequencies motivate a careful consideration of the accuracy of computed oscillation frequencies of stellar models, when applied as diagnostics of the model properties. Aims. Based on models of red-giant stars that have been independently calculated using different stellar evolution codes, we investigate the extent to which the differences in the model calculation affect the model oscillation frequencies and other asteroseismic diagnostics. Methods. For each of the models, which cover four different masses and different evolution stages on the red-giant branch, we computed full sets of low-degree oscillation frequencies using a single pulsation code and, from these frequencies, typical asteroseismic diagnostics. In addition, we carried out preliminary analyses to relate differences in the oscillation properties to the corresponding model differences. Results. In general, the differences in asteroseismic properties between the different models greatly exceed the observational precision of these properties. This is particularly true for the nonradial modes whose mixed acoustic and gravity-wave character makes them sensitive to the structure of the deep stellar interior and, hence, to details of their evolution. In some cases, identifying these differences led to improvements in the final models presented here and in Paper I; here we illustrate particular examples of this. Conclusions. Further improvements in stellar modelling are required in order fully to utilise the observational accuracy to probe intrinsic limitations in the modelling and improve our understanding of stellar internal physics. However, our analysis of the frequency differences and their relation to stellar internal properties provides a striking illustration of the potential, in particular, of the mixed modes of red-giant stars for the diagnostics of stellar interiors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. With the advent of space-based asteroseismology, determining accurate properties of red-giant stars using their observed oscillations has become the focus of many investigations due to their implications in a variety of fields in astrophysics. Stellar models are fundamental in predicting quantities such as stellar age, and their reliability critically depends on the numerical implementation of the physics at play in this evolutionary phase. Aims. We introduce the Aarhus red giants challenge, a series of detailed comparisons between widely used stellar evolution and oscillation codes that aim to establish the minimum level of uncertainties in properties of red giants arising solely from numerical implementations. We present the first set of results focusing on stellar evolution tracks and structures in the red-giant-branch (RGB) phase. Methods. Using nine state-of-the-art stellar evolution codes, we defined a set of input physics and physical constants for our calculations and calibrated the convective efficiency to a specific point on the main sequence. We produced evolutionary tracks and stellar structure models at a fixed radius along the red-giant branch for masses of 1:0 M, 1:5 M, 2:0 M®, and 2:5 M®, and compared the predicted stellar properties. Results. Once models have been calibrated on the main sequence, we find a residual spread in the predicted effective temperatures across all codes of ~20K at solar radius and ~30-40K in the RGB regardless of the considered stellar mass. The predicted ages show variations of 2-5% (increasing with stellar mass), which we attribute to differences in the numerical implementation of energy generation. The luminosity of the RGB-bump shows a spread of about 10% for the considered codes, which translates into magnitude differences of ~0:1 mag in the optical V-band. We also compare the predicted [C/N] abundance ratio and find a spread of 0.1 dex or more for all considered masses. Conclusions. Our comparisons show that differences at the level of a few percent still remain in evolutionary calculations of red giants branch stars despite the use of the same input physics. These are mostly due to differences in the energy generation routines and interpolation across opacities, and they call for further investigation on these matters in the context of using properties of red giants as benchmarks for astrophysical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the star formation history (SFH) of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy based on deep g, r photometry taken with Dark Energy Camera at the Blanco telescope, focusing our analysis on the central region of the galaxy extended up to ∼3 core radii. We have investigated how the SFH changes radially, subdividing the sampled area into four regions, and have detected a clear trend of star formation. All the SFHs show a single episode of star formation, with the innermost region presenting a longer period of star formation of ∼1.5 Gyr and for the outermost region the main period of star formation is confined to ∼0.5 Gyr. We observe a gradient in the mean age which is found to increase going towards the outer regions. These results suggest that Sculptor continued forming stars after the reionization epoch in its central part, while in the peripheral region, the majority of stars probably formed during the reionization epoch and soon after its end. From our analysis, Sculptor cannot be considered strictly as a fossil of the reionization epoch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the third paper of this series aimed at developing the tools for analysing resolved stellar populations using the cameras on board of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) , we present a detailed multiband study of the 2 Gyr Galactic open cluster NGC 2506. We employ public calibration data sets collected in multiple filters to: (i) derive improved effective Point Spread Functions (ePSFs) for 10 NIRCam filters; (ii) extract high-precision photometry and astrometry for stars in the cluster, approaching the main sequence (MS) lower mass of ∼0.1 M⊙; and (iii) take advantage of the synergy between JWST and Gaia  DR3 to perform a comprehensive analysis of the cluster's global and local properties. We derived a MS binary fraction of ∼57.5 per cent, extending the Gaia limit (∼0.8 M⊙) to lower masses (∼0.4 M⊙) with JWST. We conducted a study on the mass functions (MFs) of NGC 2506, mapping the mass segregation with Gaia data, and extending MFs to lower masses with the JWST field. We also combined information on the derived MFs to infer an estimate of the cluster present-day total mass. Lastly, we investigated the presence of white dwarfs (WDs) and identified a strong candidate. However, to firmly establish its cluster membership, as well as that of four other WD candidates and of the majority of faint low-mass MS stars, further JWST equally deep observations will be required. We make publicly available catalogues, atlases, and the improved ePSFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use new observations from the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope to study the white dwarf cooling sequence of the open cluster M37, a cluster that displays an extended main-sequence turn-off and, according to a recent photometric analysis, also a spread of initial chemical composition. By taking advantage of a first epoch collected in 1999 with the same telescope, we have been able to calculate proper motions for sources as faint as g ∼ 26 (about ∼ 6 mag fainter than the Gaia limit), allowing us to separate cluster members from field stars. This has enabled us to isolate a sample of the white dwarf population of M37, reaching the end of the cooling sequence (at g ∼ 23.5). Here, the derived atlas and calibrated catalogue of the sources in the field of view is publicly released as supplementary online material. Finally, we present an exhaustive comparison of the white dwarf luminosity function with theoretical models, which has allowed us to exclude the age-spread scenario as the main responsible for the extended turn-off seen in the cluster colour–magnitude diagram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the star formation history (SFH) of the Sextans dwarf spheroidal galaxy based on deep archive B, I photometry taken with Suprime-Cam at Subaru telescope focusing our analysis on the inner region of the galaxy, fully located within the core radius. Within the errors of our SFH, we have not detected any metallicity gradient along the considered radial distance interval. As a main result of this work, we can state that the Sextans dwarf spheroidal stopped forming stars less than ~1.3 Gyr after big bang in correspondence to the end of the reionization epoch. We have been able to constrain the duration of the main burst of star formation to ~0.6 Gyr. From the calculation of the mechanical luminosity released from supernovae (SNe) during the brief episode of star formation, there are strong indications that SNe could have played an important role in the fate of Sextans, by removing almost completely the gas component, so preventing a prolonged star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We build on the evidence provided by our Legacy Survey of Galactic globular clusters (GC) to submit to a crucial test four scenarios currently entertained for the formation of multiple stellar generations in GCs. The observational constraints on multiple generations to be fulfilled are manifold, including GC specificity, ubiquity, variety, predominance, discreteness, supernova avoidance, p-capture processing, helium enrichment and mass budget. We argue that scenarios appealing to supermassive stars, fast rotating massive stars and massive interactive binaries violate in an irreparable fashion two or more among such constraints. Also the scenario appealing to asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars as producers of the material for next generation stars encounters severe difficulties, specifically concerning the mass budget problem and the detailed chemical composition of second-generation stars. We qualitatively explore ways possibly allowing one to save the AGB scenario, specifically appealing to a possible revision of the cross-section of a critical reaction rate destroying sodium, or alternatively by a more extensive exploration of the vast parameter space controlling the evolutionary behaviour of AGB stellar models. Still, we cannot ensure success for these efforts and totally new scenarios may have to be invented to understand how GCs formed in the early Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has become fully operational, early release data are now available to begin building the tools and calibrations for precision point-source photometry and astrometry in crowded cluster environments. Here, we present our independent reduction of NIRCam imaging of the metal-poor globular cluster M 92, which were collected under Director's Discretionary Early Release Science programme ERS-1334. We derived empirical models of the point spread function (PSF) for filters F 090 W, F 150 W, F 277 W , and F 444 W , and find that these PSFs: (i) are generally undersampled (FWHM ∼ 2 pixel) in F 150 W and F 444 W and severely undersampled (FWHM ∼ 1 pixel) in F 090 W and F 277 W ; (ii) have significant variation across the field of view, up to ∼15–20 per cent; and (iii) have temporal variations of ∼ 3–4 per cent across multi-epoch exposures. We deployed our PSFs to determine the photometric precision of NIRCam for stars in the crowded, central regions of M 92, measured to be at the ∼0.01 mag level. We use these data to construct the first JWST colour–magnitude diagrams of a globular cluster. Employing existing stellar models, we find that the data reach almost the bottom of the M 92 main sequence (∼0.1 M⊙), and reveal 24 white dwarf candidate members of M 92 in the brightest portion of the white dwarf cooling sequence. The latter are confirmed through a cross-match with archival HST UV and optical data. We also detect the presence of multiple stellar populations along the low-mass main sequence of M 92. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an astrometric and photometric wide-field study of the Galactic open star cluster M37 (NGC 2099). The studied field was observed with ground-based images covering a region of about four square degrees in the Sloan -like filters ugi. We exploited the Gaia catalogue to calibrate the geometric distortion of the large field mosaics, developing software routines that can be also applied to other wide-field instruments. The data are used to identify the hottest white dwarf (WD) member candidates of M37. Thanks to the Gaia EDR3 exquisite astrometry we identified seven such WD candidates, one of which, besides being a high-probability astrometric member, is the putative central star of a planetary nebula. To our knowledge, this is a unique object in an open cluster, and we have obtained follow-up low-resolution spectra that are used for a qualitative characterization of this young WD. Finally, we publicly release a three-colour atlas and a catalogue of the sources in the field of view, which represents a complement of existing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the SMASH survey to obtain unprecedented deep photometry reaching down to the oldest main-sequence turn-offs in the colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and quantitatively derive its star formation history (SFH) using CMD fitting techniques. We identify five distinctive peaks of star formation in the last 3.5 Gyr, at ∼3, ∼2, ∼1.1, ∼0.45 Gyr ago, and one presently. We compare these to the SFH of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), finding unequivocal synchronicity, with both galaxies displaying similar periods of enhanced star formation over the past ∼3.5 Gyr. The parallelism between their SFHs indicates that tidal interactions between the MCs have recurrently played an important role in their evolution for at least the last ∼3.5 Gyr, tidally truncating the SMC and shaping the LMC's spiral arm. We show, for the first time, an SMC–LMC correlated SFH at recent times in which enhancements of star formation are localized in the northern spiral arm of the LMC, and globally across the SMC. These novel findings should be used to constrain not only the orbital history of the MCs but also how star formation should be treated in simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used Hubble Space Telescope observations to study the young cluster NGC 1844 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We estimated the fraction and the mass-ratio distribution of photometric binaries and report that the main sequence presents an intrinsic breadth which cannot be explained only in terms of photometric errors, and is unlikely because of differential reddening.We attempted different interpretations of this feature, including stellar rotation, binary stars, and the presence of multiple stellar populations of different ages, metallicity, helium, or C+N+O abundance. Although we have excluded age, helium, and C+N+O variations of being responsible for the main-sequence spread, none of the other interpretations is conclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. RR Lyrae stars are useful standard candles allowing one to derive accurate distances for old star clusters. Based on the recent catalogues from OGLE-IV and Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3), the distances can be improved for a few bulge globular clusters. Aims. The aim of this work is to derive an accurate distance for the following six moderately metal-poor, relatively high-reddening bulge globular clusters: NGC 6266, NGC 6441, NGC 6626, NGC 6638, NGC 6642, and NGC 6717. Methods. We combined newly available OGLE-IV catalogues of variable stars containing mean I magnitudes, with Clement's previous catalogues containing mean V magnitudes, and with precise proper motions from Gaia EDR3. Astrometric membership probabilities were computed for each RR Lyrae, in order to select those compatible with the cluster proper motions. Applying luminosity–metallicity relations derived from BaSTI α-enhanced models (He-enhanced for NGC 6441 and canonical He for the other clusters), we updated the distances with relatively low uncertainties. Results. Distances were derived with the I and V bands, with a 5 − 8% precision. We obtained 6.6 kpc, 13.1 kpc, 5.6 kpc, 9.6 kpc, 8.2 kpc, and 7.3 kpc for NGC 6266, NGC 6441, NGC 6626, NGC 6638, NGC 6642, and NGC 6717, respectively. The results are in excellent agreement with the literature for all sample clusters, considering the uncertainties. Conclusions. The present method of distance derivation, based on recent data of member RR Lyrae stars, updated BaSTI models, and robust statistical methods, proved to be consistent. A larger sample of clusters will be investigated in a future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leo I is considered one of the youngest dwarf spheroidals (dSph) in the Local Group. Its isolation, extended star formation history (SFH), and recent perigalacticon passage (∼1 Gyr ago) make Leo I one of the most interesting nearby stellar systems. Here, we analyse deep photometric Hubble Space Telescope data via colour–magnitude diagram fitting techniques to study its global and radially resolved SFH. We find global star formation enhancements in Leo I ∼13, 5.5, 2.0, and 1.0 Gyr ago, after which it was substantially quenched. Within the context of previous works focused on Leo I, we interpret the most ancient and the youngest ones as being linked to an early formation (surviving reionization) and the latest perigalacticon passage (transition from dIrr to dSph), respectively. We clearly identify the presence of very metal poor stars ([Fe/H] ∼ −2) ageing ∼5–6 and ∼13 Gyr old. We speculate with the possibility that this metal-poor population in Leo I is related to the merging with a low-mass system (possibly an ultra-faint dwarf). This event would have triggered star formation (peak of star formation ∼5.5 Gyr ago) and accumulated old, metal-poor stars from the accreted system in Leo I. Some of the stars born during this event would also form from accreted gas of low-metallicity (giving rise to the 5–6 Gyr low-metallicity tail). Given the intensity and extension of the 2.0 Gyr burst, we hypothesize that this enhancement could also have an external origin. Despite the quenching of star formation around 1 Gyr ago (most probably induced by ram pressure stripping with the Milky Way halo at pericentre), we report the existence of stars as young as 300–500 Myr. We also distinguish two clear spatial regions: the inner ∼190 pc presents a homogeneous stellar content (size of the gaseous star forming disc in Leo I from ∼4.5 to 1 Gyr ago), whereas the outer regions display a clear positive age gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a deep Blanco/DECam colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) for the large but very diffuse Milky Way satellite dwarf galaxy Crater II. The CMD shows only old stars with a clearly bifurcated subgiant branch (SGB) that feeds a narrow red giant branch. The horizontal branch (HB) shows many RR Lyrae and red HB stars. Comparing the CMD with [Fe/H] = −2.0 and [α/Fe] = + 0.3 alpha-enhanced BaSTI isochrones indicates a mean age of 12.5 Gyr for the main event and a mean age of 10.5 Gyr for the brighter SGB. With such multiple star formation events Crater II shows similarity to more massive dwarfs that have intermediate age populations, however for Crater II there was early quenching of the star formation and no intermediate age or younger stars are present. The spatial distribution of Crater II stars overall is elliptical in the plane of the sky, the detailed distribution shows a lack of strong central concentration, and some inhomogeneities. The 10.5 Gyr subgiant and upper main-sequence stars show a slightly higher central concentration when compared to the 12.5 Gyr population. Matching to Gaia DR2 we find the proper motion of Crater II: μαcos δ = −0.14 ± 0.07, μδ = −0.10 ± 0.04 mas yr−1, approximately perpendicular to the semimajor axis of Crater II. Our results provide constraints on the star formation and chemical enrichment history of Crater II, but cannot definitively determine whether or not substantial mass has been lost over its lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The object ESO 456-SC38 (Djorgovski 2) is one of the globular clusters that is closest to the Galactic center. It is on the blue horizontal branch and has a moderate metallicity of [Fe/H] ∼ −1.0. It is thus similar to the very old inner bulge globular clusters NGC 6522, NGC 6558, and HP 1, and therefore appears to be part of the primeval formation stages of the Milky Way. Aims. The aim of this work is to determine an accurate distance and metallicity for ESO 456-SC38, as well as orbital parameters, in order to check similarities with other clusters in the inner bulge that have previously been well studied in terms of spectroscopy and photometry. This is a considerably fainter cluster that is contaminated by a rich stellar field; it is also quite absorbed by the dusty foreground. Methods. We analyzed ESO 456-SC38 based on HST photometry, with the filters F606W from ACS, F110W and F160W from WFC3, and photometry in V and I from FORS2 at the VLT. We combined this with identified stars that are covered by Gaia Data Release 2. Results. The isochrone fitting was carried out with the statistical Markov chain Monte Carlo method. We derive an accurate distance of d⊙ = 8.75 ± 0.12 kpc and a reddening of E(B−V) = 0.81+0.02−0.02 E (B − V) = 0. 81 − 0.02 + 0.02 $ E(B-V)=0.81^{+0.02}_{-0.02} $. The best-fitting BaSTI isochrones correspond to an age of 12.70+0.72−0.69 12. 70 − 0.69 + 0.72 $ 12.70^{+0.72}_{-0.69} $ Gyr and a metallicity of [Fe/H] = −1.11+0.03−0.03 [ Fe / H ] = − 1. 11 − 0.03 + 0.03 $ \mathrm{[Fe/H]}=-1.11^{+0.03}_{-0.03} $. Conclusions. ESO 456-SC38 adds to the list of moderately metal-poor globular clusters located in the inner bulge. It has a blue horizontal branch and is very old. The cluster is confined to the bulge and bar region, but it does not support the Galactic bar structure. The old stellar population represented by clusters like this has to be taken into account in models of Galactic bulge formation. Studying them also provides indications on the formation times of the globular clusters themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a multiwavelength analysis of the complex stellar populations within the massive globular cluster Mayall II (G1), a satellite of the nearby Andromeda galaxy projected at a distance of 40 kpc. We used images collected with the Hubble Space Telescope in UV, blue and optical filters to explore the multiple stellar populations hosted by G1. The m F438W versus m F438W − m F606W colour–magnitude diagram shows a significant spread of the red giant branch, that divides 1 mag brighter than the red clump. A possible explanation is the presence of two populations with different iron abundance or different C+N+O content, or different helium content, or a combination of the three causes. A similar red giant branch split is observed also for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 6388. Our multiwavelength analysis gives also the definitive proof that G1 hosts stars located on an extended blue horizontal branch. The horizontal branch of G1 exhibits similar morphology as those of NGC 6388 and NGC 6441, which host stellar populations with extreme helium abundance (Y > 0.33). As a consequence, we suggest that G1 may also exhibit large star-to-star helium variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Recent observational programs are providing a global view of the Milky Way bulge that serves as a template for detailed comparison with models and extragalactic bulges. A number of surveys (VVV, GIBS, GES, ARGOS, BRAVA, APOGEE) are producing comprehensive and detailed extinction, metallicity, kinematics, and stellar density maps of the Galactic bulge with unprecedented accuracy. However, the still missing key ingredient is the distribution of stellar ages across the bulge. Aims. To overcome this limitation, we aim to age-date the stellar population in several bulge fields with the ultimate goal of deriving an age map of the bulge. This paper presents the methodology and the first results obtained for a field along the bulge minor axis, at b = −6°. Methods. We use a new PSF-fitting photometry of the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey data to construct deep color–magnitude diagrams of the bulge stellar population down to ∼2 mag below the main sequence turnoff. To address the contamination by foreground disk stars we adopt a statistical approach by using control-disk fields located at different latitudes (spanning approximately the bulge's range) and longitudes −30° and +20°. We generate synthetic photometric catalogs of complex stellar populations with different age and metallicity distributions, including the observational errors and completeness. The comparison between the color–magnitude diagrams of synthetic and observed disk-decontaminated bulge populations provides constraints on the stellar ages in the observed field. Results. We find the bulk of the bulge stellar population in the observed field along the minor axis to be older than ∼7.5 Gyr. In particular, when the metallicity distribution function spectroscopically derived by GIBS is used, the best fit to the data is obtained with a combination of synthetic populations with ages in between ∼7.5 Gyr and 11 Gyr. However, the fraction of stars younger than ∼10 Gyr strongly depends upon the number of blue straggler stars present in the bulge. Simulations show that the observed color–magnitude diagram of the bulge in the field along the minor axis is incompatible with the presence of a conspicuous population of intermediate-age and young (≲5 Gyr) stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work, based on data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs), has revealed that all the analysed clusters host two groups of first- (1G) and second-generation (2G) stars. In most GCs, both 1G and 2G stars host substellar populations with different chemical composition. We compare multiwavelength HST photometry with synthetic spectra to determine for the first time the average helium difference between the 2G and 1G stars in a large sample of 57 GCs and the maximum helium variation within each of them. We find that in all clusters 2G stars are consistent with being enhanced in helium with respect to 1G. The maximum helium variation ranges from less than 0.01 to more than 0.10 in helium mass fraction and correlates with both the cluster mass and the colour extension of the horizontal branch (HB). These findings demonstrate that the internal helium variation is one of the main (second) parameters governing the HB morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the astrophotometric catalogues of 56 globular clusters and one open cluster. Astrometry and photometry are mainly based on images collected within the ' HST Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters: Shedding UV Light on Their Populations and Formation' (GO-13297, PI: Piotto), and the 'ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters' (GO-10775, PI: Sarajedini). For each source in the catalogues for which we have reliable proper motion, we also publish a membership probability for separation of field and cluster stars. These new catalogues, which we make public in Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes, replace previous catalogues by Paper VIII of this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently shown that the ~2 Gyr old Large Magellanic Cloud star cluster NGC 1978 hosts multiple populations in terms of star-to-star abundance variations in [N/Fe]. These can be seen as a splitting or spread in the subgiant and red giant branches (SGB and RGB) when certain photometric filter combinations are used. Because of its relative youth, NGC 1978 can be used to place stringent limits on whether multiple bursts of star formation have taken place within the cluster, as predicted by some models for the origin of multiple populations. We carry out two distinct analyses to test whether multiple star formation epochs have occurred within NGC 1978. First, we use ultraviolet colour--magnitude diagrams (CMDs) to select stars from the first and second population along the SGB, and then compare their positions in optical CMDs, where the morphology is dominantly controlled by age as opposed to multiple population effects. We find that the two populations are indistinguishable, with age differences of 1 ± 20 Myr between them. This is in tension with predictions from the asymptotic giant branch scenario for the origin of multiple populations. Second, we estimate the broadness of the main-sequence turn-off (MSTO) of NGC 1978 and we report that it is consistent with the observational errors. We find an upper limit of ~65 Myr on the age spread in the MSTO of NGC 1978. This finding is in conflict with the age spread scenario as origin of the extended MSTO in intermediate-age clusters, while it fully supports predictions from the stellar rotation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the Hubble Space Telescope UV Survey of Galactic globular clusters (GCs), we derived high-precision, multi-band photometry to investigate the multiple stellar populations in the massive and metal-poor GC M 15. By creating for red-giant branch (RGB) stars of the cluster a 'chromosome map', which is a pseudo two-colour diagram made with appropriate combination of F275W, F336W, F438W, and F814W magnitudes, we revealed colour spreads around two of the three already known stellar populations. These spreads cannot be produced by photometric errors alone and could hide the existence of (two) additional populations. This discovery increases the complexity of the multiple-population phenomenon in M 15. Our analysis shows that M 15 exhibits a faint sub-giant branch (SGB), which is also detected in colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) made with optical magnitudes only. This poorly populated SGB includes about 5 per cent of the total number of SGB stars and evolves into a red RGB in the mF336W versus mF336W − mF814W CMD, suggesting that M 15 belongs to the class of Type II GCs. We measured the relative number of stars in each population at various radial distances from the cluster centre, showing that all of these populations share the same radial distribution within statistic uncertainties. These new findings are discussed in the context of the formation and evolution scenarios of the multiple populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic globular clusters, 110 parallel fields were observed with the Wide Field Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys, in the outskirts of 48 globular clusters, plus the open cluster NGC6791. Totalling about 0.3 deg² of observed sky, this is the largest homogeneous Hubble Space Telescope photometric survey of Galalctic globular clusters outskirts to date. In particular, two distinct pointings have been obtained for each target on average, all centred at about 6.5 arcmin from the cluster centre, thus covering a mean area of about 23 arcmin² for each globular cluster. For each field, at least one exposure in both F475W and F814W filters was collected. In this work, we publicly release the astrometric and photometric catalogues and the astrometrized atlases for each of these fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of the origin and evolution of the Milky Way disc have long relied on chemical and kinematic identifications of its components to reconstruct our Galactic past. Difficulties in determining precise stellar ages have restricted most studies to small samples, normally confined to the solar neighbourhood. Here, we break this impasse with the help of asteroseismic inference and perform a chronology of the evolution of the disc throughout the age of the Galaxy. We chemically dissect the Milky Way disc population using a sample of red giant stars spanning out to 2 kpc in the solar annulus observed by the Kepler satellite, with the added dimension of asteroseismic ages. Our results reveal a clear difference in age between the low- and high-α populations, which also show distinct velocity dispersions in the V and W components. We find no tight correlation between age and metallicity nor [α/Fe] for the high-α disc stars. Our results indicate that this component formed over a period of more than 2 Gyr with a wide range of [M/H] and [α/Fe] independent of time. Our findings show that the kinematic properties of young α-rich stars are consistent with the rest of the high-α population and different from the low-α stars of similar age, rendering support to their origin being old stars that went through a mass transfer or stellar merger event, making them appear younger, instead of migration of truly young stars formed close to the Galactic bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters is providing a major breakthrough in our knowledge of globular clusters (GCs) and their stellar populations. Among the main results, we discovered that all the studied GCs host two main discrete groups consisting of first generation (1G) and second generation (2G) stars. We exploit the multiwavelength photometry from this project to investigate, for the first time, the Red Giant Branch Bump (RGBB) of the two generations in a large sample of GCs. We identified, with high statistical significance, the RGBB of 1G and 2G stars in 26 GCs and found that their magnitude separation as a function of the filter wavelength follows comparable trends. The comparison of observations to synthetic spectra reveals that the RGBB luminosity depends on the stellar chemical composition and that the 2G RGBB is consistent with stars enhanced in He and N and depleted in C and O with respect to 1G stars. For metal-poor GCs the 1G and 2G RGBB relative luminosity in optical bands mostly depends on helium content, Y. We used the RGBB observations in F606W and F814W bands to infer the relative helium abundance of 1G and 2G stars in 18 GCs, finding an average helium enhancement ΔY = 0.011 ± 0.002 of 2G stars with respect to 1G stars. This is the first determination of the average difference in helium abundance of multiple populations in a large number of clusters and provides a lower limit to the maximum internal variation of helium in GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters is providing a major breakthrough in our knowledge of globular clusters (GCs) and their stellar populations. Among the main results, we discovered that all the studied GCs host two main discrete groups consisting of first generation (1G) and second generation (2G) stars. We exploit the multiwavelength photometry from this project to investigate, for the first time, the Red Giant Branch Bump (RGBB) of the two generations in a large sample of GCs. We identified, with high statistical significance, the RGBB of 1G and 2G stars in 26 GCs and found that their magnitude separation as a function of the filter wavelength follows comparable trends. The comparison of observations to synthetic spectra reveals that the RGBB luminosity depends on the stellar chemical composition and that the 2G RGBB is consistent with stars enhanced in He and N and depleted in C and O with respect to 1G stars. For metal-poor GCs the 1G and 2G RGBB relative luminosity in optical bands mostly depends on helium content, Y. We used the RGBB observations in F606W and F814W bands to infer the relative helium abundance of 1G and 2G stars in 18 GCs, finding an average helium enhancement ΔY = 0.011 ± 0.002 of 2G stars with respect to 1G stars. This is the first determination of the average difference in helium abundance of multiple populations in a large number of clusters and provides a lower limit to the maximum internal variation of helium in GCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present chemical abundances for 17 elements in a sample of 11 red giant branch stars in NGC 6362 from UVES spectra. NGC 6362 is one of the least massive globulars where multiple populations have been detected, yet its detailed chemical composition has not been investigated so far. NGC 6362 turns out to be a metal-intermediate ([Fe/H] = -1.07 ± 0.01 dex) cluster, with its α-peak and Fe-peak elements content compatible with that observed in clusters with similar metallicity. It also displays an enhancement in its s-process element abundances. Among the light elements involved in the multiple populations phenomenon, only [Na/Fe] shows star-to-star variations, while [Al/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] do not show any evidence for abundance spreads. A differential comparison with M4, a globular cluster with similar mass and metallicity, reveals that the two clusters share the same chemical composition. This finding suggests that NGC 6362 is indeed a regular cluster, formed from gas that has experienced the same chemical enrichment of other clusters with similar metallicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly all Galactic globular clusters host stars that display characteristic abundance anticorrelations, like the O-rich/Na-poor pattern typical of field halo stars, together with O-poor/Narich additional components. A recent spectroscopic investigation questioned the presence of O-poor/Na-rich stars amongst a sample of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the cluster M4, at variance with the spectroscopic detection of a O-poor/Na-rich component along both the cluster red giant branch (RGB) and horizontal branch. This is contrary to what is expected from the cluster horizontal branch morphology and horizontal branch stellar evolution models. Here, we have investigated this issue by employing the CUBI = (U - B) - (B - I) index, that previous studies have demonstrated to be very effective in separating multiple populations along both the RGB and AGB sequences. We confirm previous results that the RGB is intrinsically broad in the V-CUBI diagram, with the presence of two components that nicely correspond to the two populations identified by high-resolution spectroscopy. We find that AGB stars are distributed over a wide range of CUBI values, in close analogy with what is observed for the RGB, demonstrating that the AGB of M4 also hosts multiple stellar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly all Galactic globular clusters host stars that display characteristic abundance anticorrelations, like the O-rich/Na-poor pattern typical of field halo stars, together with O-poor/Narich additional components. A recent spectroscopic investigation questioned the presence of O-poor/Na-rich stars amongst a sample of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the cluster M4, at variance with the spectroscopic detection of a O-poor/Na-rich component along both the cluster red giant branch (RGB) and horizontal branch. This is contrary to what is expected from the cluster horizontal branch morphology and horizontal branch stellar evolution models. Here, we have investigated this issue by employing the CUBI = (U - B) - (B - I) index, that previous studies have demonstrated to be very effective in separating multiple populations along both the RGB and AGB sequences.We confirm previous results that the RGB is intrinsically broad in the V-CUBI diagram, with the presence of two components that nicely correspond to the two populations identified by high-resolution spectroscopy. We find that AGB stars are distributed over a wide range of CUBI values, in close analogy with what is observed for the RGB, demonstrating that the AGB of M4 also hosts multiple stellar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly all Galactic globular clusters host stars that display characteristic abundance anticorrelations, like the O-rich/Na-poor pattern typical of field halo stars, together with O-poor/Narich additional components. A recent spectroscopic investigation questioned the presence of O-poor/Na-rich stars amongst a sample of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the cluster M4, at variance with the spectroscopic detection of a O-poor/Na-rich component along both the cluster red giant branch (RGB) and horizontal branch. This is contrary to what is expected from the cluster horizontal branch morphology and horizontal branch stellar evolution models. Here, we have investigated this issue by employing the CUBI = (U - B) - (B - I) index, that previous studies have demonstrated to be very effective in separating multiple populations along both the RGB and AGB sequences. We confirm previous results that the RGB is intrinsically broad in the V-CUBI diagram, with the presence of two components that nicely correspond to the two populations identified by high-resolution spectroscopy. We find that AGB stars are distributed over a wide range of CUBI values, in close analogy with what is observed for the RGB, demonstrating that the AGB of M4 also hosts multiple stellar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hubble Space Telescope UV Legacy survey of Galactic globular clusters (GC) is characterizing many different aspects of their multiple stellar populations. The 'Grundahl-jump' (G-jump) is a discontinuity in ultraviolet brightness of blue horizontal branch (HB) stars, signalling the onset of radiative metal levitation. The HB Legacy data confirmed that the G-jump is located at the same Teff (≈11 500 K) in nearly all clusters. The only exceptions are the metal-rich clusters NGC 6388 and NGC 6441, where the G-jump occurs at Teff ≈ 13-14 000 K. We compute synthetic HB models based on new evolutionary tracks including the effect of helium diffusion, and approximately accounting for the effect of metal levitation in a stable atmosphere. Our models show that the G-jump location depends on the interplay between the time-scale of diffusion and the time-scale of the evolution in the Teff range 11 500 K≤ Teff ≤ 14 000 K. The G-jump becomes hotter than 11 500 K only for stars that have, in this Teff range, a helium mass fraction Y ≥ 0.35. Similarly high Y values are also consistent with the modelling of the HB in NGC 6388 and NGC 6441. In these clusters, we predict that a significant fraction of HB stars show helium in their spectra above 11 500 K, and full helium settling should only be found beyond the hotter G-jump. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the identification of 634 variable stars in the Milky Way dwarf spheroidal (dSph) satellite Sculptor based on archival ground-based optical observations spanning ∼24 yr and covering ∼2.5 deg2. We employed the same methodologies as the ‘Homogeneous Photometry’ series published by Stetson. In particular, we have identified and characterized one of the largest (536) RR Lyrae samples so far in a Milky Way dSph satellite. We have also detected four Anomalous Cepheids, 23 SX Phoenicis stars, five eclipsing binaries, three field variable stars, three peculiar variable stars located above the horizontal branch – near to the locus of BL Herculis – that we are unable to classify properly. Additionally, we identify 37 long period variables plus 23 probable variable stars, for which the current data do not allow us to determine the period. We report positions and finding charts for all the variable stars, and basic properties (period, amplitude, mean magnitude) and light curves for 574 of them. We discuss the properties of the RR Lyrae stars in the Bailey diagram, which supports the coexistence of subpopulations with different chemical compositions. We estimate the mean mass of Anomalous Cepheids (∼1.5 M⊙) and SX Phoenicis stars (∼1 M⊙). We discuss in detail the nature of the former. The connections between the properties of the different families of variable stars are discussed in the context of the star formation history of the Sculptor dSph galaxy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of a vertical age gradient in the Milky Way disc has been indirectly known for long. Here, we measure it directly for the first time with seismic ages, using red giants observed by Kepler. We use Strömgren photometry to gauge the selection function of asteroseismic targets, and derive colour and magnitude limits where giants with measured oscillations are representative of the underlying population in the field. Limits in the 2MASS system are also derived. We lay out a method to assess and correct for target selection effects independent of Galaxy models. We find that low-mass, i.e. old red giants dominate at increasing Galactic heights, whereas closer to the Galactic plane they exhibit a wide range of ages and metallicities. Parametrizing this as a vertical gradient returns approximately 4 Gyr kpc-1 for the disc we probe, although with a large dispersion of ages at all heights. The ages of stars show a smooth distribution over the last 1≃0 Gyr, consistent with a mostly quiescent evolution for the Milky Way disc since a redshift of about 2. We also find a flat age--metallicity relation for disc stars. Finally, we show how to use secondary clump stars to estimate the present-day intrinsic metallicity spread, and suggest using their number count as a new proxy for tracing the ageing of the disc. This work highlights the power of asteroseismology for Galactic studies; however, we also emphasize the need for better constraints on stellar mass-loss, which is a major source of systematic age uncertainties in red giant stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed a new abundance analysis of Carina red giant (RG) stars from spectroscopic data collected with UVES (high spectral resolution) and FLAMES/GIRAFFE (high and medium resolution) at ESO/VLT. The former sample includes 44 RGs, while the latter consists of 65 (high-resolution) and 800 (medium-resolution) RGs, covering a significant fraction of the galaxy's RG branch, and red clump stars. To improve the abundance analysis at the faint magnitude limit, the FLAMES/GIRAFFE data were divided into ten surface gravity and e ective temperature bins. The spectra of the stars belonging to the same gravity and temperature bin were stacked. This approach allowed us to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in the faint magnitude limit (V ⩾ 20.5 mag) by at least a factor of five. We took advantage of the new photometry index cU,B,J introduced recently as an age and probably a metallicity indicator to split stars along the red giant branch. These two stellar populations display distinct [Fe/H] and [Mg/H] distributions: their mean iron abundances are -2:15 ± 0:06 dex (σ = 0:28), and 1:75 ± 0:03 dex (σ = 0:21), respectively. The two iron distributions di er at the 75% level. This supports preliminary results. Moreover, we found that the old and intermediate-age stellar populations have mean [Mg/H] abundances of -1:91 ± 0:05 dex (σ = 0:22) and 1:35±0:03 dex ( σ= 0:22); these di er at the 83% level. Carina's -element abundances agree, within 1σ, with similar abundances for field halo stars and for cluster (Galactic and Magellanic) stars. The same outcome applies to nearby dwarf spheroidals and ultra-faint dwarf galaxies in the iron range covered by Carina stars. Finally, we found evidence of a clear correlation between Na and O abundances, thus suggesting that Carina's chemical enrichment history is quite di erent from that in the globular clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we combine Wide Field Camera3/UVIS F275W, F336W, and F438W data from the 'UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters: Shedding Light on Their Populations and Formation' (GO 13297) Hubble Space Telescope Treasury programme with F606W, F625W, F658N, and F814W Advanced Camera for Surveys archive data for a multiwavelength study of the globular cluster NGC 6352. In the colour--magnitude and two-colour diagrams obtained with appropriate combination of the photometry in the different bands, we separate two distinct stellar populations and trace them from the main sequence to the subgiant, red giant, horizontal and asymptotic giant branches. We infer that the two populations differ in He by ΔY = 0.029 ± 0.006. With a new method, we also estimate the age difference between the two sequences. Assuming no difference in [Fe/H] and [α/Fe], and the uncertainties on ΔY, we found a difference in age between the two populations of 10 ± 120 Myr. If we assume [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] differences of 0.02 dex (well within the uncertainties of spectroscopic measurements), the total uncertainty in the relative age rises to ~300 Myr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we combine Wide Field Camera3/UVIS F275W, F336W, and F438W data from the 'UV Legacy Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters: Shedding Light on Their Populations and Formation' (GO 13297) Hubble Space Telescope Treasury programme with F606W, F625W, F658N, and F814WAdvanced Camera for Surveys archive data for a multiwavelength study of the globular cluster NGC 6352. In the colour-magnitude and two-colour diagrams obtained with appropriate combination of the photometry in the different bands, we separate two distinct stellar populations and trace them from the main sequence to the subgiant, red giant, horizontal and asymptotic giant branches. We infer that the two populations differ in He by ΔY = 0.029 ± 0.006. With a new method, we also estimate the age difference between the two sequences. Assuming no difference in [Fe/H] and [a/Fe], and the uncertainties on Y, we found a difference in age between the two populations of 10 ± 120 Myr. If we assume [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] differences of 0.02 dex (well within the uncertainties of spectroscopic measurements), the total uncertainty in the relative age rises to ~300 Myr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that the extended main-sequence turn-off (eMSTO) is a common feature of intermediate-age star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). The most simple explanation is that these stellar systems harbour multiple generations of stars with an age difference of a few hundred million years. However, while an eMSTO has been detected in a large number of clusters with ages between ~1-2 Gyr, several studies of young clusters in both MCs and in nearby galaxies do not find any evidence for a prolonged star formation history, i. e. for multiple stellar generations. These results have suggested alternative interpretation of the eMSTOs observed in intermediate-age star clusters. The eMSTO could be due to stellar rotation mimicking an age spread or to interacting binaries. In these scenarios, intermediate-age MC clusters would be simple stellar populations, in close analogy with younger clusters. Here, we provide the first evidence for an eMSTO in a young stellar cluster. We exploit multiband Hubble Space Telescope photometry to study the ~300-Myr old star cluster NGC 1856 in the Large Magellanic Cloud and detected a broadened MSTO that is consistent with a prolonged star formation which had a duration of about 150 Myr. Below the turn-off, the main sequence (MS) of NGC 1856 is split into a red and blue component, hosting 33 ± 5 and 67 ± 5 per cent of the total number of MS stars, respectively. We discuss these findings in the context of multiple-stellar-generation, stellar-rotation, and interacting-binary hypotheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a high-resolution spectroscopic analysis of 62 red giants in the MilkyWay globular cluster (GC) NGC 5286. We have determined abundances of representative light protoncapture, α, Fe-peak and neutron-capture element groups, and combined them with photometry of multiple sequences observed along the colour-magnitude diagram. Our principal results are: (i) a broad, bimodal distribution in s-process element abundance ratios, with two main groups, the s-poor and s-rich groups; (ii) substantial star-to-star Fe variations, with the s-rich stars having higher Fe, e.g. ([Fe/H])s-rich - ([Fe/H])s-poor ~ 0.2 dex; and (iii) the presence of O-Na-Al (anti)correlations in both stellar groups. We have defined a new photometric index, cBVI = (B - V) - (V - I), to maximize the separation in the colour-magnitude diagram between the two stellar groups with different Fe and s-element content, and this index is not significantly affected by variations in light elements (such as the O-Na anticorrelation). The variations in the overall metallicity present in NGC 5286 add this object to the class of anomalous GCs. Furthermore, the chemical abundance pattern of NGC 5286 resembles that observed in some of the anomalous GCs, e.g. M 22, NGC 1851, M 2, and the more extreme ω Centauri, that also show internal variations in s-elements, and in light elements within stars with different Fe and s-elements content. In view of the common variations in s-elements, we propose the term s-Fe-anomalous GCs to describe this sub-class of objects. The similarities in chemical abundance ratios between these objects strongly suggest similar formation and evolution histories, possibly associated with an origin in tidally disrupted dwarf satellites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]