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The Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs), thanks to their large apertures and cutting-edge Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) systems, promise to deliver sharper and deeper data even than the JWST. SHARP is a concept study for a near-IR (0.95-2.45 $\mu$m) spectrograph conceived to fully exploit the collecting area and the angular resolution of the upcoming generation of ELTs. In particular, SHARP is designed for the 2nd port of MORFEO@ELT. Composed of a Multi-Object Spectrograph, NEXUS, and a multi-Integral Field Unit, VESPER, MORFEO-SHARP will deliver high angular ($\sim$30 mas) and spectral (R$\simeq$300, 2000, 6000, 17000) resolution, outperforming NIRSpec@JWST (100 mas). SHARP will enable studies of the nearby Universe and the early Universe in unprecedented detail. NEXUS is fed by a configurable slit system deploying up to 30 slits with $\sim$2.4 arcsec length and adjustable width, over a field of about 1.2"$\times$1.2" (35 mas/pix). Each slit is fed by an inversion prism able to rotate by an arbitrary angle the field that can be seen by the slit. VESPER is composed of 12 probes of 1.7"$\times$1.5" each (spaxel 31 mas) probing a field 24"$\times$70". SHARP is conceived to exploit the ELTs apertures reaching the faintest flux and the sharpest angular resolution by joining the sensitivity of NEXUS and the high spatial sampling of VESPER to MORFEO capabilities. This article provides an overview of the scientific design drivers, their solutions, and the resulting optical design of the instrument achieving the required optical performance., Comment: Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 2024, Volume 13096, Paper No. 130965I, 11 pp, 11 figs

This work is part of VESTALE, a project initiated within the Rubin-LSST Cadence Strategy Optimization Process . Its goal is to explore the potential of Rubin-LSST observations aimed at the Galaxy's bulge (Bulge) for studying RR Lyrae stars (RRL). Observation and analysis of RR Lyrae stars in the Bulge are crucial for tracing the old population of the central part of our galaxy and reconstructing the history of Bulge formation. Based on observations conducted with CTIO/DECam by Saha et al. 2019 towards the Baade Window, our simulations demonstrate that early Rubin-LSST observations will enable the recovery of RR Lyrae light curves at Galactic center distances with sufficient precision. This will allow us to utilize theoretical relations from Marconi et al. 2022 to determine their distances and/or metallicity, following the REDIME algorithm introduced in Bono et al. 2019. We show how reddening and crowding affect our simulations and highlight the importance of considering these effects when deriving pulsation parameters (luminosity amplitudes, mean magnitudes) based on the light curves especially if the goal is to explore the opposite side of the Bulge through the observation of its RRL. The simulations discussed in this investigation were conducted to support the SCOC's decision to observe this important sky region since it has only recently been decided to include part of the Bulge as a target within the LSST main survey., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJS. 12 pages and 6 figures

We review the phenomenology of classical Cepheids (CCs), Anomalous Cepheids (ACs) and type II Cepheids (TIICs) in the Milky Way (MW) and in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). We also examine the Hertzsprung progression in different stellar systems by using the shape of I-band light curves (Fourier parameters) and observables based on the difference in magnitude and in phase between the bump and the minimum in luminosity. The distribution of Cepheids in optical and in optical-near infrared (NIR) color--magnitude diagrams is investigated to constrain the topology of the instability strip. The use of Cepheids as tracers of young (CCs), intermediate (ACs) and old (TIICs) stellar populations are brought forward by the comparison between observations (MCs) and cluster isochrones covering a broad range in stellar ages and in chemical compositions. The different diagnostics adopted to estimate individual distances (period--luminosity, period--Wesenheit, period--luminosity--color relations) are reviewed together with pros and cons in the use of fundamental and overtones, optical and NIR photometric bands, and reddening free pseudo magnitudes (Wesenheit). We also discuss the use of CCs as stellar tracers and the radial gradients among the different groups of elements (iron, alpha, neutron-capture) together with their age-dependence. Finally, we briefly outline the role that near-future space and ground-based facilities will play in the astrophysical and cosmological use of Cepheids., Comment: Published in The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review Volume 32, article number 4

Metallicity gradients refer to the sloped radial profile of metallicities of gas and stars and are commonly seen in disk galaxies. A well-defined metallicity gradient of the Galactic disk is observed particularly well with classical Cepheids, which are good stellar tracers thanks to their period-luminosity relation allowing precise distance estimation and other advantages. However, the measurement of the inner-disk gradient has been impeded by the incompleteness of previous samples of Cepheids and limitations of optical spectroscopy in observing highly reddened objects. Here we report the metallicities of 16 Cepheids measured with high-resolution spectra in the near-infrared YJ bands. These Cepheids are located at 3-5.6 kpc in the Galactocentric distance, R(GC), and reveal the metallicity gradient in this range for the first time. Their metallicities are mostly between 0.1 and 0.3 dex in [Fe/H] and more or less follow the extrapolation of the metallicity gradient found in the outer part, R(GC) larger than 6.5 kpc. The gradient in the inner disk may be shallower or even flat, but the small sample does not allow to determine the slope precisely. More extensive spectroscopic observations would also be necessary for studying minor populations, if any, with higher or lower metallicities that were reported in previous literature. In addition, three-dimensional velocities of our inner-disk Cepheids show the kinematic pattern that indicates non-circular orbits caused by the Galactic bar, which is consistent with the patterns reported in recent studies on high-mass star-forming regions and red giant branch stars., Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 10 pages, 2 figures, and 2 tables

Classical Cepheids (CCs) are solid distance indicators and tracers of young stellar populations. Our aim is to provide iron, oxygen, and sulfur abundances for the largest and most homogeneous sample of Galactic CCs ever analyzed. The current sample covers a wide range in Galactocentric distances (RG), pulsation modes and periods. High-resolution and high S/N spectra collected with different spectrographs were adopted to estimate the atmospheric parameters. Individual distances are based on Gaia trigonometric parallaxes or on near-infrared Period-Luminosity relations. We found that Fe and alpha-element radial gradients based on CCs display a well-defined change in the slope for RG larger than 12 kpc. Radial gradients based on open clusters, covering a wide range in age, display similar trends, meaning that the flattening in the outer disk is an intrinsic feature of the radial gradients since it is independent of age. Empirical evidence indicates that the radial gradient for S is steeper than for Fe. The difference in the slope is a factor of two in the linear fit. We also found that S is, on average, under-abundant compared with O. We performed a detailed comparison with Galactic chemical evolution models and we found that a constant Star Formation Efficiency for RG larger than 12 kpc takes account for the flattening in both Fe and alpha-elements. To further constrain the impact that predicted S yields for massive stars have on radial gradients, we adopted a "toy model" and we found that the flattening in the outermost regions requires a decrease of a factor of four in the current S predictions. Sulfur photospheric abundances, compared with other alpha-elements, have the key advantage of being a volatile element. Therefore, stellar S abundances can be directly compared with nebular S abundances in external galaxies., Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables; to be published in the A&A journal

The technique of line depth ratios (LDR) is one of the methods to determine the effective temperature of a star. They are crucial in the spectroscopic studies of variable stars like Cepheids since no simultaneous photometry is usually available. A good number of LDR-temperature relations are already available in the optical domain, here we want to expand the number of relations available in the near-infrared in order to fully exploit the capabilities of current and upcoming near-infrared spectrographs. We used 115 simultaneous spectroscopic observations in the optical and the near-infrared for six Cepheids and optical line depth ratios to find new pairs of lines sensitive to temperature and to calibrate LDR-temperature relations in the near-infrared spectral range. We have derived 87 temperature calibrations valid in the [4800-6500] K range of temperatures. The typical uncertainty for a given relation is 60-70 K, and combining many of them provides a final precision within 30-50 K. We found a discrepancy between temperatures derived from optical or near-infrared LDR for pulsations phases close to phi ~ 0.0 and we discuss the possible causes for these differences. Line depth ratios in the near-infrared will allow us to spectroscopically investigate highly reddened Cepheids in the Galactic centre or in the far side of the disk., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables. Published in MNRAS

We investigate the properties of the mixed-mode (RRd) RR Lyrae (RRL) variables in the Fornax dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy by using $B$- and $V$-band time series collected over twenty-four years. We compare the properties of the RRds in Fornax with those in the Magellanic Clouds and in nearby dSphs, with special focus on Sculptor. We found that the ratio of RRds over the total number of RRLs decreases with metallicity. Typically, dSphs have very few RRds with 0.49$\ltsim P_0 \ltsim $0.53 days, but Fornax fills this period gap in the Petersen diagram (ratio between first overtone over fundamental period versus fundamental period). We also found that the distribution in the Petersen diagram of Fornax RRds is similar to SMC RRds, thus suggesting that their old stars have a similar metallicity distribution. We introduce the Period-Amplitude RatioS (PARS) diagram, a new pulsation diagnostics independent of distance and reddening. We found that LMC RRds in this plane are distributed along a short- and a long-period sequence that we identified as the metal-rich and the metal-poor component. These two groups are also clearly separated in the Petersen and Bailey (luminosity amplitude versus logarithmic period) diagrams. These circumstantial evidence indicates that the two groups have different evolutionary properties. All the pulsation diagnostics adopted in this investigation suggest that old stellar populations in Fornax and Sculptor dSphs underwent different chemical enrichment histories. Fornax RRds are similar to SMC RRds, while Sculptor RRds are more similar to the metal-rich component of the LMC RRds., Comment: Accepted for publication by MNRAS

Mapping the Galactic spiral structure is a difficult task since the Sun is located in the Galactic plane and because of dust extinction. For these reasons, molecular masers in radio wavelengths have been used with great success to trace the Milky Way spiral arms. Recently, Gaia parallaxes have helped in investigating the spiral structure in the Solar extended neighborhood. In this paper, we propose to determine the location of the spiral arms using Cepheids since they are bright, young supergiants with accurate distances (they are the first ladder of the extragalactic distance scale). They can be observed at very large distances; therefore, we need to take the Galactic warp into account. Thanks to updated mid-infrared photometry and to the most complete catalog of Galactic Cepheids, we derived the parameters of the warp using a robust regression method. Using a clustering algorithm, we identified groups of Cepheids after having corrected their Galactocentric distances from the (small) effects of the warp. We derived new parameters for the Galactic warp, and we show that the warp cannot be responsible for the increased dispersion of abundance gradients in the outer disk reported in previous studies. We show that Cepheids can be used to trace spiral arms, even at large distances from the Sun. The groups we identify are consistent with previous studies explicitly deriving the position of spiral arms using young tracers (masers, OB(A) stars) or mapping overdensities of upper main-sequence stars in the Solar neighborhood thanks to Gaia data., Comment: Accepted in A&A

We report the discovery of high velocity candidates among RR~Lyrae stars found in the Milky Way halo. We identified 9 RR~Lyrae stars with Galactocentric velocities exceeding the local escape velocity based on the assumed Galaxy potential. Based on close examination of their orbits', we ruled out their ejection location in the Milky Way disk and bulge. The spatial distribution revealed that seven out of 9 pulsators overlap with the position of the Sagittarius stellar stream. Two out of these seven RR~Lyrae stars can be tentatively linked to the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy on the basis of their orbits. Focusing on the high-velocity tail of the RR~Lyrae velocity distribution we estimate the escape velocity in the Solar neighborhood to be $v_{\rm esc}=512^{+94}_{-37}$\,km\,s$^{-1}$~($4$ to $12$\,kpc), and beyond the Solar neighborhood as $v_{\rm esc}=436^{+44}_{-22}$\,km\,s$^{-1}$~and $v_{\rm esc}=393^{+53}_{-26}$\,km\,s$^{-1}$~(for distances between $12$ to $20$\,kpc and $20$ to $28$\,kpc), respectively. We utilized three escape velocity estimates together with the local circular velocity to estimate the Milky Way mass. The resulting measurement $M_{\rm 200}=0.83^{+0.29}_{-0.16} \cdot 10^{12}$\,M$_{\odot}$ falls on the lower end of the current Milky Way mass estimates, but once corrected for the likely bias in the escape velocity (approximately $10$ percent increase of the escape velocity), our mass estimate yields $M_{\rm 200}=1.26^{+0.40}_{-0.22} \cdot 10^{12}$\,M$_{\odot}$, which is in agreement with estimates based on different diagnostics of the Milky Way mass. The MW mass within $20$\,kpc then corresponds to $M_{\rm MW} \left(r < 20\,\text{kpc} \right)=1.9^{+0.2}_{-0.1} \times 10^{11}$\,M$_{\odot}$ without correction for bias, and $M_{\rm MW} \left(r < 20\,\text{kpc} \right)=2.1^{+0.2}_{-0.1} \times 10^{11}$\,M$_{\odot}$ corrected for a likely offset in escape velocities., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A

Classical Cepheids are the most popular distance indicators and tracers of young stellar populations. The key advantage is that they are bright and they can be easily identified in Local Group and Local Volume galaxies. Their evolutionary and pulsation properties depend on their chemical abundances. The main aim of this investigation is to perform a new and accurate abundance analysis of two tens of calibrating Galactic Cepheids using high spectral resolution (R$\sim$40,000-115,000) and high S/N spectra ($\sim$400) covering the entire pulsation cycle. We focus our attention on possible systematics affecting the estimate of atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances along the pulsation cycle. We cleaned the line list by using atomic transition parameters based on laboratory measurements and by removing lines that are either blended or display abundance variations along the pulsation cycle. The spectroscopic approach that we developed brings forward small dispersions in the variation of the atmospheric parameters ($\sigma$($T_{\rm eff}$)$\sim$50 K, $\sigma$($\log{g}$)$\sim$0.2 dex, and $\sigma$($\xi$)$\sim$0.2 km/s) and in the abundance of both iron ($\lesssim$ 0.05 dex) and alpha elements ($\lesssim$0.10 dex) over the entire pulsation cycle. We also provide new and accurate effective temperature templates by splitting the calibrating Cepheids into four different period bins, ranging from short to long periods. For each period bin, we performed an analytical fit with Fourier series providing $\theta = 5040/{T_{\rm eff}}$ as a function of the pulsation phase. The current findings are a good viaticum to trace the chemical enrichment of the Galactic thin disk by using classical Cepheids and a fundamental stepping stone for further investigations into the more metal-poor regime typical of Magellanic Cepheids., Comment: 31 pages, 23 figures (out of which 11 are in the appendices A and B), to be published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics journal

Radial abundance gradients provide sound constraints for chemo-dynamical models of galaxies. Azimuthal variations of abundance ratios are solid diagnostics to understand their chemical enrichment. In this paper we investigate azimuthal variations of abundances in the Milky Way using Cepheids. We provide the detailed chemical composition (25 elements) of 105 Classical Cepheids from high-resolution SALT spectra observed by the MAGIC project. Negative abundance gradients, with abundances decreasing from the inner to the outer disc, have been reported both in the Milky Way and in external galaxies, and our results are in full agreement with literature results. We find azimuthal variations of the oxygen abundance [O/H]. While a large number of external spirals show negligible azimuthal variations, the Milky Way seems to be one of the few galaxies with noticeable [O/H] azimuthal asymmetries. They reach ~0.2 dex in the inner Galaxy and in the outer disc, where they are the largest, thus supporting similar findings for nearby spiral galaxies as well as recent 2D chemo-dynamical models., Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present a detailed study of the variable star population of Eridanus II (Eri II), an ultra-faint dwarf galaxy that lies close to the Milky Way virial radius. We analyze multi-epoch $g,r,i$ ground-based data from Goodman and the Dark Energy Camera, plus $F475W, F606W, F814W$ space data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys. We report the detection of 67 RR Lyrae (RRL) stars and 2 Anomalous Cepheids, most of them new discoveries. With the RRL stars, we measure the distance modulus of Eri II, $\mu_0=22.84\pm 0.05$ mag (D$_{\odot}=370\pm9$ kpc) and derive a metallicity spread of 0.3 dex (0.2 dex intrinsic). The colour distribution of the horizontal branch (HB) and the period distribution of the RRL stars can be nicely reproduced by a combination of two stellar models of [Fe/H]=($-2.62$, $-2.14$). The overall low metallicity is consistent with the red giant branch bump location, 0.65 mag brighter than the HB. These results are in agreement with previous spectroscopic studies. The more metal-rich RRL and the RRab stars have greater central concentration than the more metal-poor RRL and the RRc stars that are mainly located outside $\sim 1$ r$_{\rm h}$. This is similar to what is found in larger dwarf galaxies such as Sculptor, and in agreement with an outside-in galaxy formation scenario. This is remarkable in such a faint dwarf galaxy with an apparently single and extremely short ($<1$ Gyr) star formation burst. Finally, we have derived new and independent structural parameters for Eri II and its star cluster using our new data that are in very good agreement with previous estimates., Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 8 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We discuss the largest and most homogeneous spectroscopic dataset of field RR Lyrae variables (RRLs) available to date. We estimated abundances using both high-resolution and low-resolution ({\Delta S} method) spectra for fundamental (RRab) and first overtone (RRc) RRLs. The iron abundances for 7,941 RRLs were supplemented with similar literature estimates available, ending up with 9,015 RRLs (6,150 RRab, 2,865 RRc). The metallicity distribution shows a mean value of <[Fe/H]> = -1.51\pm0.01, and {\sigma}(standard deviation)= 0.41 dex with a long metal-poor tail approaching [Fe/H] = -3 and a sharp metal-rich tail approaching solar iron abundance. The RRab variables are more metal-rich (<[Fe/H]>ab = -1.48\pm0.01, {\sigma} = 0.41 dex) than RRc variables (<[Fe/H]>c = -1.58\pm0.01, {\sigma} = 0.40 dex). The relative fraction of RRab variables in the Bailey diagram (visual amplitude vs period) located along the short-period (more metal-rich) and the long-period (more metal-poor) sequences are 80% and 20\%, while RRc variables display an opposite trend, namely 30\% and 70\%. We found that the pulsation period of both RRab and RRc variables steadily decreases when moving from the metal-poor to the metal-rich regime. The visual amplitude shows the same trend, but RRc amplitudes are almost two times more sensitive than RRab amplitudes to metallicity. We also investigated the dependence of the population ratio (Nc/Ntot) of field RRLs on the metallicity and we found that the distribution is more complex than in globular clusters. The population ratio steadily increases from ~0.25 to ~0.36 in the metal-poor regime, it decreases from ~0.36 to ~0.18 for -1.8 < [Fe/H] < -0.9 and it increases to a value of ~0.3 approaching solar iron abundance., Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We collected the largest spectroscopic catalog of RR Lyrae (RRLs) including $\approx$20,000 high-, medium- and low-resolution spectra for $\approx$10,000 RRLs. We provide the analytical forms of radial velocity curve (RVC) templates. These were built using 36 RRLs (31 fundamental -- split into three period bins -- and 5 first overtone pulsators) with well-sampled RVCs based on three groups of metallic lines (Fe, Mg, Na) and four Balmer lines (H$_\alpha$, H$_\beta$, H$_\gamma$, H$_\delta$). We tackled the long-standing problem of the reference epoch to anchor light curve and RVC templates. For the $V$-band, we found that the residuals of the templates anchored to the phase of the mean magnitude along the rising branch are $\sim$35\% to $\sim$45\% smaller than those anchored to the phase of maximum light. For the RVC, we used two independent reference epochs for metallic and Balmer lines and we verified that the residuals of the RVC templates anchored to the phase of mean RV are from 30\% (metallic lines) up to 45\% (Balmer lines) smaller than those anchored to the phase of minimum RV. We validated our RVC templates by using both the single- and the three-phase points approach. We found that barycentric velocities based on our RVC templates are two-three times more accurate than those available in the literature. We applied the current RVC templates to Balmer lines RVs of RRLs in the globular NGC~3201 collected with MUSE at VLT. We found the cluster barycentric RV of $V_{\gamma}$=496.89$\pm$8.37(error)$\pm$3.43 (standard deviation) km/s, which agrees well with literature estimates.

We provide the largest and most homogeneous sample of $\alpha$-element (Mg, Ca, Ti) and iron abundances for field RR Lyrae (RRLs, 162 variables) by using high-resolution spectra. The current measurements were complemented with similar abundances available in the literature for 46 field RRLs brought to our metallicity scale. We ended up with a sample of old (t$\ge$ 10 Gyr), low-mass stellar tracers (208 RRLs: 169 fundamental, 38 first overtone, 1 mixed mode) covering three dex in iron abundance (-3.00$\le$[Fe/H]$\le$0.24). We found that field RRLs are $\sim$0.3 dex more $\alpha$-poor than typical Halo tracers in the metal-rich regime, ([Fe/H]$\ge$-1.2) while in the metal-poor regime ([Fe/H]$\le$-2.2) they seem to be on average $\sim$0.1 dex more $\alpha$-enhanced. This is the first time that the depletion in $\alpha$-elements for solar iron abundances is detected on the basis of a large, homogeneous and coeval sample of old stellar tracers. Interestingly, we also detected a close similarity in the [$\alpha$/Fe] trend between $\alpha$-poor, metal-rich RRLs and red giants (RGs) in the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy as well as between $\alpha$-enhanced, metal-poor RRLs and RGs in ultra faint dwarf galaxies. These results are supported by similar elemental abundances for 46 field Horizontal Branch (HB) stars. These stars share with RRLs the same evolutionary phase and the same progenitors. This evidence further supports the key role that old stellar tracers play in constraining the early chemical enrichment of the Halo and, in particular, in investigating the impact that dwarf galaxies have had in the mass assembly of the Galaxy.

We present a chemo-dynamical study of the Orphan stellar stream using a catalog of RR~Lyrae pulsating variable stars for which photometric, astrometric, and spectroscopic data are available. Employing low-resolution spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), we determined line-of-sight velocities for individual exposures and derived the systemic velocities of the RR~Lyrae stars. In combination with the stars' spectroscopic metallicities and \textit{Gaia} EDR3 astrometry, we investigated the northern part of the Orphan stream. In our probabilistic approach, we found 20 single mode RR~Lyrae variables likely associated with the Orphan stream based on their positions, proper motions, and distances. The acquired sample permitted us to expand our search to nonvariable stars in the SDSS dataset, utilizing line-of-sight velocities determined by the SDSS. We found 54 additional nonvariable stars linked to the Orphan stream. The metallicity distribution for the identified red giant branch stars and blue horizontal branch stars is, on average, $-2.13\pm0.05$ dex and $-1.87\pm0.14$ dex, with dispersions of 0.23 and 0.43dex, respectively. The metallicity distribution of the RR~Lyrae variables peaks at $-1.80\pm0.06$ dex and a dispersion of 0.25dex. Using the collected stellar sample, we investigated a possible link between the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Grus II and the Orphan stream. Based on their kinematics, we found that both the stream RR~Lyrae and Grus II are on a prograde orbit with similar orbital properties, although the large uncertainties on the dynamical properties render an unambiguous claim of connection difficult. At the same time, the chemical analysis strongly weakens the connection between both. We argue that Grus II in combination with the Orphan stream would have to exhibit a strong inverse metallicity gradient, which to date has not been detected in any Local Group system., Comment: 22 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A, final version

We performed the largest and most homogeneous spectroscopic survey of field RR Lyraes (RRLs). We secured $\approx$6,300 high resolution (HR, R$\sim$35,000) spectra for 143 RRLs (111 fundamental, RRab; 32 first overtone, RRc). The atmospheric parameters were estimated by using the traditional approach and the iron abundances were measured by using an LTE line analysis. The resulting iron distribution shows a well defined metal-rich tail approaching solar iron abundance. This suggests that field RRLs experienced a complex chemical enrichment in the early halo formation. We used these data to develop a new calibration of the $\Delta$S method. This diagnostic, based on the equivalent widths of CaII K and three Balmer (H$_{\delta,\gamma,\beta}$) lines, traces the metallicity of RRLs. For the first time the new empirical calibration: i) includes spectra collected over the entire pulsation cycle; ii) includes RRc variables; iii) relies on spectroscopic calibrators covering more than three dex in iron abundance; iv) provides independent calibrations based on one/two/three Balmer lines. The new calibrations were applied to both SEGUE-SDSS and degraded HR spectra totalling 6,451 low resolution (LR, R$\sim$2,000) spectra for 5,001 RRLs (3,439 RRab, 1,562 RRc). This resulted in an iron distribution with a median of -1.55$\pm$0.01 and $\sigma$=0.51 dex, in good agreement with literature values. We also found that RRc are 0.10 dex more metal-poor than RRab variables, and have a distribution with a smoother metal-poor tail. This finding supports theoretical prescriptions suggesting a steady decrease in the RRc number when moving from metal-poor to metal-rich stellar environments., Comment: Accepted by ApJ

The separation between RR Lyrae (RRLs) and Type II Cepheid (T2Cs) variables based on their period is debated. Both types of variable stars are distance indicators and we aim to promote the use of T2Cs as distance indicators in synergy with RRLs. We adopted new and existing optical and Near-Infrared (NIR) photometry of \wcen~to investigate several diagnostics (colour-magnitude diagram, Bailey diagram, Fourier decomposition of the light curve, amplitude ratios) for their empirical separation. We found that the classical period threshold at 1 day is not universal and does not dictate the evolutionary stage: V92 has a period of 1.3 days but is likely to be still in its core Helium-burning phase, typical of RRLs. We also derived NIR Period-Luminosity relations and found a distance modulus of 13.65$\pm$0.07 (err.)$\pm$0.01 ($\sigma$) mag, in agreement with the recent literature. We also found that RRLs and T2Cs obey the same PL relations in the NIR. This equivalence gives the opportunity to adopt RRLs+T2Cs as an alternative to classical Cepheids to calibrate the extragalactic distance scale.

We discuss the observed pulsation properties of Type II Cepheids (TIICs) in the Galaxy and Magellanic Clouds. The period (P) distributions, luminosity amplitudes and population ratios of the three different sub-groups (BL Herculis[BLH, P<5 days], W Virginis [WV, 520 days]) are quite similar in different stellar systems, suggesting a common evolutionary channel and a mild dependence on both metallicity and environment. We present a homogeneous theoretical framework based on Horizontal Branch (HB) evolutionary models, envisaging that TIICs are mainly old (t<10 Gyr), low-mass stars. The BLHs are predicted to be post early asymptotic giant branch (PEAGB) stars (double shell burning) on the verge of reaching their AGB track (first crossing of the instability strip), while WVs are a mix of PEAGB and post-AGB stars (hydrogen shell burning) moving from cool to hot (second crossing). Thus suggesting that they are a single group of variable stars. RVTs are predicted to be a mix of post-AGB stars along their second crossing (short-period tail) and thermally pulsing AGB stars (long-period tail) evolving towards their white dwarf cooling sequence. We also present several sets of synthetic HB models by assuming a bimodal mass distribution along the HB. Theory suggests, in agreement with observations, that TIIC pulsation properties marginally depend on metallicity. Predicted period distributions and population ratios for BLHs agree quite well with observations, while those for WVs and RVTs are almost a factor of two smaller and larger than observed, respectively. Moreover, the predicted period distributions for WVs peak at periods shorter than observed, while those for RVTs display a long period tail not supported by observations. We investigate several avenues to explain these differences, but more detailed calculations are required to address them., Comment: Accepted for publication by A&A, 2020

Context: The effective temperature is a key parameter governing the properties of a star. For stellar chemistry, it has the strongest impact on the accuracy of the abundances derived. Since Cepheids are pulsating stars, determining their effective temperature is more complicated that in the case of non-variable stars. Aims: We want to provide a new temperature scale for classical Cepheids, with a high precision and full control of the systematics. Methods: Using a data-driven machine learning technique employing observed spectra, and taking great care to accurately phase single-epoch observations, we have tied flux ratios to (label) temperatures derived using the infrared surface brightness method. Results: We identified 143 flux ratios that allow us to determine the effective temperature with a precision of a few K and an accuracy better than 150 K, which is in line with the most accurate temperature measures available to date. The method does not require a normalization of the input spectra and provides homogeneous temperatures for low- and high-resolution spectra, even at the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. Due to the lack of a dataset of sufficient sample size for Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheids, the temperature scale does not extend to Cepheids with [Fe/H] < -0.6 dex but nevertheless provides an exquisite, homogeneous means of characterizing Galactic and Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids. Conclusions: The temperature scale will be extremely useful in the context of spectroscopic surveys for Milky Way archaeology with the WEAVE and 4MOST spectrographs. It paves the way for highly accurate and precise metallicity estimates, which will allow us to assess the possible metallicity dependence of Cepheids' period-luminosity relations and, in turn, to improve our measurement of the Hubble constant H0., Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, accepted in A&A

We present our analysis of a large sample (over 150k) of candidate Galactic RR Lyrae (RRL) stars for which we derived high quality photometry at UV, optical and infrared wavelengths, using data from publicly available surveys. For a sub-sample of these stars (~2,400 fundamental mode field RRLs) we have measured their individual metallicity using the Delta S method, resulting in the largest and most homogeneous spectroscopic data set collected for RRLs. We use this sample to study the metallicity distribution in the Galactic Halo, including the long-standing problem of the Oosterhoff dichotomy among Galactic globular clusters. We also analyze the dependence of their pulsation properties, and in particular the shape of their infrared light curves, from their [Fe/H] abundance., Comment: Proc. of "The RR Lyrae and Cepheid Conference 2019: Frontiers of Classical Pulsators - Theory and Observations", held in Cloudcroft, NM, 13-18 October 2019

We collected over 6000 high-resolution spectra of four dozen field RR Lyrae (RRL) variables pulsating either in the fundamental (39 RRab) or in the first overtone (9 RRc) mode. We measured radial velocities (RVs) of four strong metallic and four Balmer lines along the entire pulsational cycle and derived RV amplitudes with accuracies better than 1$-$2~\kmsec. The new amplitudes were combined with literature data for 23~RRab and 3~RRc stars (total sample 74 RRLs) which allowed us to investigate the variation of the Bailey diagram (photometric amplitude versus period) when moving from optical to mid-infrared bands and to re-cast the Bailey diagram in terms of RV amplitudes. We found that RV amplitudes for RRab are minimally affected by nonlinear phenomena (shocks) and multi-periodicity (Blazhko effect). The RV slope ($\log P$--A(V$_r$)) when compared with the visual slope ($\log P$--A($V$)) is shallower and the dispersion, at fixed period, decreases by a factor of two. We constructed homogeneous sets of Horizontal Branch evolutionary models and nonlinear, convective pulsation models of RRLs to constrain the impact of evolutionary effects on their pulsation properties. Evolution causes, on the Bailey diagram based on RV amplitudes, a modest variation in pulsation period and a large dispersion in amplitude. The broad dispersion in period of the Bailey diagram is mainly caused by variation in RRL intrinsic parameters (stellar mass, chemical composition). Empirical evidence indicates that RV amplitudes are an optimal diagnostic for tracing the mean effective temperature across the RRab instability strip., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepted on ApJ Letter

Context. In the advent of new infrared, high-resolution spectrometers, accurate and precise atomic data in the infrared is urgently needed. Identifications, wavelengths, strengths, broadening and hyper-fine splitting parameters of stellar lines in the near-IR are in many cases not accurate enough to model observed spectra, and in other cases even non existing. Some stellar features are unidentified. Aims. The aim with this work is to identify a spectral feature at lambda(vac) = 1063.891 nm or lambda(air) = 1063.600 nm seen in spectra of stars of different spectral types, observed with the GIANO-B spectrometer. Methods. Searching for spectral lines to match the unidentified feature in linelists from standard atomic databases was not successful. However, by investigating the original, published laboratory data we were able to identify the feature and solve the problem. To confirm its identification, we model the presumed stellar line in the solar intensity spectrum and find an excellent match. Results. We find that the observed spectral feature is a stellar line originating from the 4s'-4p' transition in S I, and that the reason for its absence in atomic line databases is a neglected air-to-vacuum correction in the original laboratory measurements from 1967 for this line only. From interpolation we determine the laboratory wavelength of the S I line to be lambda(vac) = 1063.8908 nm or lambda(air) = 1063.5993 nm, and the excitation energy of the upper level to be 9.74978 eV., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A Letters

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 [$\alpha$/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: $\mu_{\alpha}\cos \delta$=-0.14 $\pm$ 0.07 , $\mu_{\delta}$=-0.10 $\pm$ 0.04 mas yr$^{-1}$, approximately perpendicular to the semi-major 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., Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS

The Scutum complex in the inner disk of the Galaxy hosts a number of young clusters and associations of red supergiant stars that are heavily obscured by dust extinction. These stars are important tracers of the recent star formation and chemical enrichment history in the inner Galaxy. Within the SPA Large Programme at the TNG, we secured GIANO-B high-resolution (R=50,000) YJHK spectra of 11 red supergiants toward the Alicante 7 and Alicante 10 associations near the RSGC3 cluster. Taking advantage of the full YJHK spectral coverage of GIANO in a single exposure, we were able to measure several hundreds of atomic and molecular lines that are suitable for chemical abundance determinations. We also measured a prominent diffuse interstellar band at lambda=1317.8 nm (vacuum). This provides an independent reddening estimate. The radial velocities, Gaia proper motions, and extinction of seven red supergiants in Alicante 7 and three in Alicante 10 are consistent with them being members of the associations. One star toward Alicante 10 has kinematics and low extinction that are inconsistent with a membership. By means of spectral synthesis and line equivalent width measurements, we obtained chemical abundances for iron-peak, CNO, alpha, other light, and a few neutron-capture elements. We found average slightly subsolar iron abundances and solar-scaled [X/Fe] abundance patterns for most of the elements, consistent with a thin-disk chemistry. We found depletion of [C/Fe], enhancement of [N/Fe], and relatively low 12C/13C<15, which is consistent with CN cycled material and possibly some additional mixing in their atmospheres.

We collected a large data set of field RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) by using catalogues already available in the literature and Gaia DR2. We estimated the iron abundances for a sub-sample of 2,382 fundamental RRLs ($\Delta$S method: CaIIK, H$\beta$, H$\gamma$ and H$\delta$ lines) for which are publicly available medium-resolution SDSS-SEGUE spectra. We also included similar estimates available in the literature ending up with the largest and most homogeneous spectroscopic data set ever collected for RRLs (2,903). The metallicity scale was validated by using iron abundances based on high resolution spectra for a fundamental field RRL (V~Ind), for which we collected X-shooter spectra covering the entire pulsation cycle. The peak ([Fe/H]=-1.59$\pm$0.01) and the standard deviation ($\sigma$=0.43 dex) of the metallicity distribution agree quite well with similar estimates available in the literature. The current measurements disclose a well defined metal-rich tail approaching Solar iron abundance. The spectroscopic sample plotted in the Bailey diagram (period vs luminosity amplitude) shows a steady variation when moving from the metal-poor ([Fe/H]=-3.0/-2.5) to the metal-rich ([Fe/H]=-0.5/0.0) regime. The smooth transition in the peak of the period distribution as a function of the metallicity strongly indicates that the long-standing problem of the Oosterhoff dichotomy among Galactic globulars is the consequence of the lack of metal-intermediate clusters hosting RRLs. We also found that the luminosity amplitude, in contrast with period, does not show a solid correlation with metallicity. This suggests that period-amplitude-metallicity relations should be cautiously treated., Comment: 23 pages, 16 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in ApJ

We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of RR Lyrae (RRL) variables in the globular cluster NGC 5139 (omega Cen). We collected optical (4580-5330 A), high resolution (R = 34,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (200) spectra for 113 RRLs with the multi-fiber spectrograph M2FS at the Magellan/Clay Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We also analysed high resolution (R = 26,000) spectra for 122 RRLs collected with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at the VLT, available in the ESO archive. The current sample doubles the literature abundances of cluster and field RRLs in the Milky Way based on high resolution spectra. Equivalent width measurements were used to estimate atmospheric parameters, iron, and abundance ratios for alpha (Mg, Ca, Ti), iron peak (Sc, Cr, Ni, Zn), and s-process (Y) elements. We confirm that omega Cen is a complex cluster, characterised by a large spread in the iron content: -2.58 < [Fe/H] < -0.85. We estimated the average cluster abundance as [Fe/H] = -1.80 +- 0.03, with sigma = 0.33 dex. Our findings also suggest that two different RRL populations coexist in the cluster. The former is more metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -1.5), with almost solar abundance of Y. The latter is less numerous, more metal-rich, and yttrium enhanced ([Y/Fe] > 0.4). This peculiar bimodal enrichment only shows up in the s-process element, and it is not observed among lighter elements, whose [X/Fe] ratios are typical for Galactic globular clusters.

We provide homogeneous optical (UBVRI) and near-infrared (JHK) time series photometry for 254 cluster (omega Cen, M4) and field RR Lyrae (RRL) variables. We ended up with more than 551,000 measurements. For 94 fundamental (RRab) and 51 first overtones (RRc) we provide a complete optical/NIR characterization (mean magnitudes, luminosity amplitudes, epoch of the anchor point). The NIR light curves of these variables were adopted to provide new and accurate light-curve templates for both RRc (single period bin) and RRab (three period bins) variables. The templates for the J and the H band are newly introduced, together with the use of the pulsation period to discriminate among the different RRab templates. To overcome subtle uncertainties in the fit of secondary features of the light curves we provide two independent sets of analytical functions (Fourier series, Periodic Gaussian functions). The new templates were validated by using 26 omega Cen and Bulge RRLs covering the four period bins. We found that the difference between the measured mean magnitude along the light curve and the mean magnitude estimated by using the template on a single randomly extracted phase point is better than 0.01 mag (sigma=0.04 mag). We also validated the template on variables for which at least three phase points were available, but without information on the phase of the anchor point. The accuracy of the mean magnitudes is ~0.01 mag (sigma=0.04 mag). The new templates were applied to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) globular Reticulum and by using literature data and predicted PLZ relations we found true distance moduli of 18.47+-0.10+-0.03 mag (J) and 18.49+-0.09+-0.05 mag (K). We also used literature optical and mid-infrared data and we found a mean true distance modulus of 18.47+-0.02+-0.06 mag, suggesting that Reticulum is ~1 kpc closer than the LMC., Comment: Submitted to A&A

The main aim of this experiment is to provide a complete census of old (t > 10 Gyr, RR Lyrae, type II Cepheids, red horizontal branch), intermediate age (red clump, Miras) and young (classical Cepheids) stellar tracers across the Galactic Bulge. To fully exploit the unique photometric quality of LSST images, we plan to perform a Shallow minisurvey (ugrizy, -20 < l < 20 deg, -15 < b < 10 deg) and a Deep minisurvey (izy, -20 < l < 20 deg, -3 < b < 3 deg). The former one is aimed at constraining the 3D structure of the galactic Bulge across the four quadrants, and in particular, the transition between inner and outer Bulge. The u,g,r,i,z,y LSST bands provide fundamental diagnostics to constrain the evolutionary properties of low and intermediate-mass stars when moving from a metal-poor to a metal-rich regime. The deep minisurvey is aimed at tracing RR Lyrae, Red Clump stars, Miras and classical Cepheids in highly reddened regions of the Galactic center. These images will allow us to investigate the role that baryonic mass and dark matter played in the early formation and evolution of the MW., Comment: Contribution in response of the Call for White Papers on LSST Cadence Optimization

Galactic disc chemical evolution models generally ignore azimuthal surface density variation that can introduce chemical abundance azimuthal gradients. Recent observations, however, have revealed chemical abundance changes with azimuth in the gas and stellar components of both the Milky Way and external galaxies. To quantify the effects of spiral arm density fluctuations on the azimuthal variations of the oxygen and iron abundances in disc galaxies. We develop a new 2D galactic disc chemical evolution model, capable of following not just radial but also azimuthal inhomogeneities. The density fluctuations resulting from a Milky Way-like N-body disc formation simulation produce azimuthal variations in the oxygen abundance gradients of the order of 0.1 dex. Moreover, in agreement with the most recent observations in external galaxies, the azimuthal variations are more evident in the outer galactic regions. Using a simple analytical model, we show that the largest fluctuations with azimuth result near the spiral structure corotation resonance, where the relative speed between spiral and gaseous disc is the slowest. In conclusion we provided a new 2D chemical evolution model capable of following azimuthal density variations. Density fluctuations extracted from a Milky Way-like dynamical model lead to a scatter in the azimuthal variations of the oxygen abundance gradient in agreement with observations in external galaxies. We interpret the presence of azimuthal scatter at all radii by the presence of multiple spiral modes moving at different pattern speeds, as found in both observations and numerical simulations., Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A), 17 pages, 18 Figures

We developed a new approach to provide accurate estimates of metal content, reddening and true distance modulus of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs). The method is based on homogeneous optical ($BVI$) and near-infrared ($JHK$) mean magnitudes and on predicted period--luminosity--metallicity relations ($IJHK$) and absolute mean magnitude--metallicity relations ($BV$). We obtained solutions for three different RRL samples in $\omega$ Cen: first overtone (RRc,~90), fundamental (RRab,~80) and global (RRc+RRab) in which the period of first overtones were fundamentalized. The metallicity distribution shows a well defined peak at [Fe/H]$\sim$--1.98 and a standard deviation of $\sigma$=0.54 dex. The spread is, as expected, metal-poor ([Fe/H]$\le$--2.3) objects. The current metallicity distribution is $\sim$0.3 dex more metal-poor than similar estimates for RRLs available in the literature. The difference vanishes if the true distance modulus we estimated is offset by --0.06/--0.07~mag in true distance modulus. We also found a cluster true distance modulus of $\mu$=13.720$\pm$0.002$\pm$0.030~mag, where the former error is the error on the mean and the latter is the standard deviation. Moreover, we found a cluster reddening of E($B-V$)=0.132$\pm$0.002$\pm$0.028~mag and spatial variations of the order of a few arcmin across the body of the cluster. Both the true distance modulus and the reddening are slightly larger than similar estimates available in the literature, but the difference is within 1$\sigma$. The metallicity dependence of distance diagnostics agree with theory and observations, but firm constraints require accurate and homogeneous spectroscopic measurements.

Type II Cepheids (T2Cs) are radially pulsating variables that trace old stellar populations and provide distance estimates through their period-luminosity (PL) relation. We trace the structure of old stars in the Bulge using new distance estimates and kinematic properties of T2Cs. We present new NIR photometry of T2Cs in the bulge from the VVV survey. We provide the largest sample (894 stars) of T2Cs with JHKs observations that have accurate periods from the OGLE catalog. Our analysis makes use of the Ks-band time-series to estimate mean magnitudes and distances by means of the PL relation. To constrain the kinematic properties of our targets, we complement our analysis with proper motions (PMs) based on both VVV and Gaia DR2. We derive an empirical Ks-band PL relation that depends on Galactic longitude and latitude: Ks0=(10.66+-0.02)-(2.21+-0.03)*(logP-1.2)-(0.020+-0.003)*l+(0.050+-0.008)*|b| mag; individual extinction corrections are based on a 3D reddening map. Our targets display a centrally concentrated distribution, with solid evidence of ellipsoidal symmetry--similar to the RR Lyrae (RRL) ellipsoid--and a few halo outliers up to >100 kpc. We obtain a distance from the Galactic center of R0=8.46+-0.03(stat.)+-0.11(syst.) kpc. We also find evidence that the bulge T2Cs belong to a kinematically hot population, as the tangential velocity components (sigma vl*=104.2+-3.0 km/s and sigma vb=96.8+-5.5 km/s) agree within 1.2sigma. Moreover, the difference between absolute and relative PM is in good agreement with the PM of Sgr A* from VLBA measures. We conclude that bulge T2Cs display an ellipsoidal distribution and have kinematics similar to RRLs, which are other tracers of the old, low-mass stellar population. T2Cs also provide an estimate of R0 that agrees excellently well with the literature, taking account of the reddening law., Comment: Accepted for publication by A&A

We constructed new sets of He-enhanced (Y = 0.30, Y = 0.40) nonlinear, time-dependent convective hydrodynamical models of RR Lyrae (RRL) stars covering a broad range in metal abundances (Z from 0.0001 to 0.02). The increase in He content from the canonical value (Y = 0.245) to Y = 0.30 and 0.40 causes a simultaneous increase in stellar luminosity and in pulsation period. To investigate the dependence of the RRL distance scale on the He abundance, we computed new optical (RI) and near-infrared (JHK ) period luminosity metallicity helium relations. Interestingly enough, the increase in He content causes a minimal change in the coefficients of both period and metallicity terms, since canonical and He-enhanced models obey similar PLZ relations. On the contrary, the classical B and V band mean magnitude metallicity relations and the R band PLZ relation display a significant dependence on the He content. The He enhanced models are, at fixed metal content, 0.2 to 0.5 mag brighter than canonical ones. This variation is only marginally affected by evolutionary effects. The quoted distance diagnostics once calibrated with trigonometric parallaxes (Gaia) will provide the opportunity to estimate the He content of field and cluster RRLs. Moreover, the use of either spectroscopic or photometric metal abundances will pave the way to new empirical constraints on the universality of the helium to metal enrichment ratio in old stellar tracers., Comment: Accepted for publicatio on ApJ Letters

We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of horizontal branch stars in the globular cluster NGC 3201. We collected optical (4580-5330 A), high resolution (~34,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (~200) spectra for eleven RR Lyrae stars and one red horizontal branch star with the multifiber spectrograph M2FS at the 6.5m Magellan telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory. From measured equivalent widths we derived atmospheric parameters and abundance ratios for {\alpha} (Mg, Ca, Ti), iron peak (Sc, Cr, Ni, Zn) and s-process (Y) elements. We found that NGC 3201 is a homogeneous, mono-metallic ([Fe/H]=-1.47 +- 0.04), {\alpha}-enhanced ([{\alpha}/Fe]=0.37 +- 0.04) cluster. The relative abundances of the iron peak and s-process elements were found to be consistent with solar values. In comparison with other large stellar samples, NGC 3201 RR Lyraes have similar chemical enrichment histories as do those of other old (t>10 Gyr) Halo components (globular clusters, red giants, blue and red horizontal branch stars, RR Lyraes). We also provided a new average radial velocity estimate for NGC 3201 by using a template velocity curve to overcome the limit of single epoch measurements of variable stars: Vrad=494 +- 2 km s-1({\sigma}=8 km s-1).

We present a search and analysis of variable stars in the recently discovered Crater~II dwarf galaxy. Based on $B$, $V$, $I$ data collected with the Isaac Newton Telescope (FoV$\sim$0.44 square degrees) we detected 37 variable stars, of which 34 are bone-fide RR Lyrae stars of Crater~II (28 RRab, 4 RRc, 2 RRd). We applied the metal-independent ($V$, $B-V$) Period--Wesenheit relation and derived a true distance modulus ($\mu$ = 20.30$\pm$0.08 mag ($\sigma$=0.16 mag). Individual metallicities for RR Lyrae stars were derived by inversion of the predicted $I$-band Period-Luminosity relation. We find a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.64 and a standard deviation of $\sigma_{[Fe/H]}$ =0.21 dex, compatible with either negligible or vanishing intrinsic metallicity dispersion. The analysis of the Colour-Magnitude Diagram reveals a stark paucity of blue horizontal branch stars, at odds with other Galactic dwarfs, and globular clusters with similar metal abundances., Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publications on MNRAS. Time series photometry is available in the manuscript source tar

Here we review the efforts of a number of recent results that use old tracers to understand the build up of the Galaxy. Details that lead directly to using these old tracers to measure distances are discussed. We concentrate on the following: (1) the structure and evolution of the Galactic bulge and inner Galaxy constrained from the dynamics of individual stars residing therein; (2) the spatial structure of the old Galactic bulge through photometric observations of RR Lyrae-type stars; (3) the three\--dimensional structure, stellar density, mass, chemical composition, and age of the Milky Way bulge as traced by its old stellar populations; (4) an overview of RR Lyrae stars known in the ultra-faint dwarfs and their relation to the Galactic halo; and (5) different approaches for estimating absolute and relative cluster ages., Comment: Review article, 80 pages (25 figures); Space Science Reviews, in press (chapter of a special collection resulting from the May 2016 ISSI-BJ workshop on Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age)

We report the discovery from our IRSF/SIRIUS Near-Infrared (NIR) variability survey of five new classical Cepheids located in the inner Galactic Disk, at longitude $l\simeq -40^{\circ}$. The new Cepheids are unique in probing the kinematics and metallicity of young stars at the transition between the inner Disk and the minor axis of the central Bar, where they are expected to be less affected by its dynamical influence.This is also the first time that metallicity of Cepheids is estimated on the basis of medium-resolution ($R\sim3,000$) NIR spectra, and we validated our results with data in the literature, finding a minimal dependence on the adopted spectroscopic diagnostics. This result is very promising for using Cepheids as stellar proxy of the present-time chemical content of the obscured regions in the Disk. We found that the three Cepheids within 8--10 kpc from us have metallicities consistent with the mean radial metallicity gradient, and kinematics consistent with the Galactic rotation curve. Instead, the closest ($\sim$4 kpc)/farthest ($\sim$12 kpc) Cepheids have significant negative/positive residuals, both in velocity and in iron content. We discuss the possibility that such residuals are related to large-scale dynamical instabilities, induced by the bar/spiral-arm pattern, but the current sample is too limited to reach firm conclusions., Comment: submitted to MNRAS

We report the detection of 1143 variable stars towards the Galactic bulge, including 320 previously uncatalogued variables, using time-series photometry extracted from data obtained with the VIMOS imager at the Very Large Telescope. Observations of the Sagittarius Window Eclipsing Extrasolar Planet Search (SWEEPS) field in the Galactic Bulge were taken over 2 years between March and October at a cadence of $\sim$ 4 days, enabling the detection of variables with periods up to $\sim$100 days. Many of these were already known, but we detected a significant number of new variables, including 26 Cepheids, a further 18 Cepheid candidates, and many contact binaries. Here we publish the catalog of the new variables, containing coordinates, mean magnitudes as well as periods and classification; full light curves for these variables are also made available electronically., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures; submitted to MNRAS

We gathered more than 1130 high-resolution optical spectra for more than 250 Galactic classical Cepheids. The spectra were collected with different optical spectrographs: UVES at VLT, HARPS at 3.6m, FEROS at 2.2m MPG/ESO, and STELLA. To improve the effective temperature estimates, we present more than 150 new line depth ratio (LDR) calibrations that together with similar calibrations already available in the literature allowed us to cover a broad range in wavelength (between 5348 and 8427 angstrom) and in effective temperatures (between 3500 and 7700 K). This means the unique opportunity to cover both the hottest and coolest phases along the Cepheid pulsation cycle and to limit the intrinsic error on individual measurements at the level of ~100 K. Thanks to the high signal-to-noise ratio of individual spectra we identified and measured hundreds of neutral and ionized lines of heavy elements, and in turn, have the opportunity to trace the variation of both surface gravity and microturbulent velocity along the pulsation cycle. The accuracy of the physical parameters and the number of Fe I (more than one hundred) and Fe II (more than ten) lines measured allowed us to estimate mean iron abundances with a precision better than 0.1 dex. Here we focus on 14 calibrating Cepheids for which the current spectra cover either the entire or a significant portion of the pulsation cycle. The current estimates of the variation of the physical parameters along the pulsation cycle and of the iron abundances agree quite well with similar estimates available in the literature. Independent homogeneous estimates of both physical parameters and metal abundances based on different approaches that can constrain possible systematics are highly encouraged., Comment: 25 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables

Recent spectroscopic and photometric surveys are providing a comprehensive view of the MW bulge stellar population properties with unprecedented accuracy. This in turn allows us to explore the correlation between kinematics and stellar density distribution, crucial to constraint the models of Galactic bulge formation. GIBS revealed the presence of a velocity dispersion peak in the central few degrees of the Galaxy by consistently measuring high velocity dispersion in three central most fields. Due to suboptimal distribution of these fields, all being at negative latitudes and close to each other, the shape and extension of the sigma peak is poorly constrained. In this study we address this by adding new observations distributed more uniformly and in particular including fields at positive latitudes that were missing in GIBS.MUSE observations were collected in four fields at (l,b)=(0,+2),(0,-2),(+1,-1),(-1,+2). Individual stellar spectra were extracted for a number of stars comprised between ~500 and ~1200, depending on the seeing and the exposure time. Velocity measurements are done by cross-correlating observed stellar spectra in the CaT region with a synthetic template, and velocity errors obtained through Monte Carlo simulations, cross-correlating synthetic spectra with a range of different metallicities and different noise characteristics. We measure the central velocity dispersion peak within a projected distance from the Galactic center of ~280pc, reaching sigma~140 km/s at b=-1. This is in agreement with the results obtained previously by GIBS at negative longitude. The central sigma peak is symmetric with respect to the Galactic plane, with a longitude extension at least as narrow as predicted by GIBS. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulations we present analytical equations for the Rvel measurement error as a function of metallicity and SNR for giant and dwarf stars., Comment: 8 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication on A&A

We present the first spectroscopic abundance determination of iron, alpha-elements (Si, Ca and Ti) and sodium for the Mira variable V1 in the metal-rich globular cluster NGC 5927. We use high-resolution (R~ 28,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (~200) spectra collected with WINERED, a near-infrared (NIR) spectrograph covering simultaneously the wavelength range 0.91--1.35 micron. The effective temperature and the surface gravity at the pulsation phase of the spectroscopic observation were estimated using both optical (V) and NIR time-series photometric data. We found that the Mira is metal-rich ([Fe/H]=-0.55 \pm 0.15) and moderately alpha-enhanced ([alpha/Fe]=0.15 \pm 0.01, sigma=0.2). These values agree quite well with the mean cluster abundances based on high-resolution optical spectra of several cluster red giants available in the literature ([Fe/H]=-0.47 \pm 0.06, [alpha/Fe]=+0.24 \pm 0.05). We also found a Na abundance of +0.35 \pm 0.20 that is higher than the mean cluster abundance based on optical spectra (+0.18 \pm 0.13). However, the lack of similar spectra for cluster red giants and that of corrections for departures from local-thermodynamical equilibrium prevents us from establishing whether the difference is intrinsic or connected with multiple populations. These findings indicate a strong similarity between optical and NIR metallicity scales in spite of the difference in the experimental equipment, data analysis and in the adopted spectroscopic diagnostics., Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, 9 pages, 3 figures

We present a new complete Near-Infrared (NIR, $JHK_s$) census of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) in the globular $\omega$ Cen (NGC 5139). We collected 15,472 $JHK_s$ images with 4-8m class telescopes over 15 years (2000-2015) covering a sky area around the cluster center of 60x34 arcmin$^2$. These images provided calibrated photometry for 182 out of the 198 cluster RRL candidates with ten to sixty measurements per band. We also provide new homogeneous estimates of the photometric amplitude for 180 ($J$), 176 ($H$) and 174 ($K_s$) RRLs. These data were supplemented with single-epoch $JK_s$ magnitudes from VHS and with single-epoch $H$ magnitudes from 2MASS. Using proprietary optical and NIR data together with new optical light curves (ASAS-SN) we also updated pulsation periods for 59 candidate RRLs. As a whole, we provide $JHK_s$ magnitudes for 90 RRab (fundamentals), 103 RRc (first overtones) and one RRd (mixed--mode pulsator). We found that NIR/optical photometric amplitude ratios increase when moving from first overtone to fundamental and to long-period (P>0.7 days) fundamental RRLs. Using predicted Period-Luminosity-Metallicity relations, we derive a true distance modulus of 13.674$\pm$0.008$\pm$0.038 mag (statistical error and standard deviation of the median)---based on spectroscopic iron abundances---and of 13.698$\pm$0.004$\pm$0.048 mag---based on photometric iron abundances. We also found evidence of possible systematics at the 5-10% level in the zero-point of the PLs based on the five calibrating RRLs whose parallaxes had been determined with HST, Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ (2018), 36 pages, 22 figures

In the framework of the STREGA (STRucture and Evolution of the GAlaxy) survey, two fields around the globular cluster Pal 12 were observed with the aim of detecting the possible presence of streams and/or an extended halo. The adopted stellar tracers are the Main Sequence, Turn-off and Red Giant Branch stars. We discuss the lumi- nosity function and the star counts in the observed region covering about 2 tidal radii, confirming that Pal 12 appears to be embedded in the Sagittarius Stream. Adopting an original approach to separate cluster and field stars, we do not find any evidence of sig- nificant extra-tidal Pal 12 stellar populations. The presence of the Sagittarius stream seems to have mimicked a larger tidal radius in previous studies. Indeed, adopting a King model, a redetermination of this value gives r_T = 0.22 +- 0.1 deg., Comment: 13 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS on 22 September 2017

Context: Cepheids are excellent tracers of young stellar populations. They play a crucial role in astrophysics as standard candles. The chemistry of classical Cepheids in the Milky Way is now quite well-known. Despite a much larger sample, the chemical composition of Magellanic Cepheids has been only scarcely investigated. Aims: For the first time, we study the chemical composition of several Cepheids located in the same populous cluster: NGC 1866, in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). To also investigate the chemical composition of Cepheids at lower metallicity, four targets are located in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Our sample allows us to increase the number of Cepheids with known metallicities in the LMC/SMC by 20%/25% and the number of Cepheids with detailed chemical composition in the LMC/SMC by 46%/50%. Methods: We use canonical spectroscopic analysis to determine the chemical composition of Cepheids and provide abundances for a good number of $\alpha$, iron-peak and neutron-capture elements. Results: We find that six Cepheids in the LMC cluster NGC 1866 have a very homogeneous chemical composition, also consistent with red giant branch (RGB) stars in the cluster. Period--age relations that include no or average rotation indicate that all the Cepheids in NGC 1866 have a similar age and therefore belong to the same stellar population. Our results are in good agreement with theoretical models accounting for luminosity and radial velocity variations. Using distances based on period-luminosity relations in the near- or mid-infrared, we investigate for the first time the metallicity distribution of the young population in the SMC in the depth direction. Preliminary results show no metallicity gradient along the SMC main body, but our sample is small and does not contain Cepheids in the inner few degrees of the SMC., Comment: Accepted in A&A

We analyzed the high-resolution spectra of a large sample of AGB and RGB stars in the Galactic globular clusters (GCs) NGC 104, NGC 6121, and NGC 6809 obtained with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at ESO/VLT, and determined their Na abundances. This is the first time that the AGB stars in NGC 6809 are targeted. Moreover, we reanalyzed with the same method the data archive for NGC 6752. To investigate the dependence of AGB Na abundance dispersion on GC parameters, we compared the AGB [Na/H] distributions we obtained (including NGC 2808 presented in the first paper of this series) with literature data for four other GCs, i.e., a total of nine GCs, covering a wide range of GC parameters. We find that NGC 104 and NGC 6809 have comparable AGB and RGB Na abundance distributions revealed by the K-S test, while NGC 6121 shows a lack of very Na-rich AGB star. By analyzing all the nine GCs, the Na abundances and multiple populations of AGB stars show a complex picture. In some GCs, AGB stars have similar Na abundances and/or second-population fractions as their RGB counterparts, while some GCs do not have Na-rich second-population AGB star, and various cases exist between the two extremes. In addition, the fitted relations between fractions of AGB second population and GC global parameters show that AGB second-population fraction slightly anticorrelates with GC central concentration, while no robust dependency can be confirmed with other GC parameters. Current data roughly support the prediction of FRMS scenario. However, considering the weak observational and theoretical trends where scatter and exceptions exist, the fraction of second-population AGB stars can be affected by more than one or two factors, and may even be a result of stochasticity., Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics