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Home All issues Volume 543 (July 2012) A&A, 543 (2012) A148 Full HTML
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Issue
A&A
Volume 543, July 2012
Article Number A148
Number of page(s) 8
Section Galactic structure, stellar clusters and populations
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118523
Published online 13 July 2012

© ESO, 2012

1. Introduction

M 28 (NGC 6266) is a moderately reddened [mag] and bright (MV = −8.16 mag) globular cluster (GC) located at a low Galactic latitude (b = −5.58)1. Though relatively close, at a distance from the Sun of only 5.5 kpc, it remains a relatively ill-studied cluster, likely due to the unfavorable (and highly variable) foreground reddening. Indeed, variability studies of the cluster have so far been mostly restricted to photographic data (Wehlau & Butterworth 1990; Wehlau & Clement 1990), and modern color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) have only recently been presented in the literature (Davidge et al. 1996; Rosenberg et al. 2000; Testa et al. 2001; Alonso-García et al. 2012).

Still, M 28 appears as a particularly interesting object for at least three reasons: first, it has been found to have a disk-like orbit (Rees & Cudworth 1991; Cudworth & Hanson 1993), thus making it one of the most metal-poor members of the so-called “thick disk” family of GCs (see, e.g., Armandroff & Zinn 1988). Second, among clusters of similar metallicity ([Fe/H] ≃ −1.32), M 28 stands out as having a horizontal branch (HB) morphology strongly skewed towards the blue (see also Alcaino 1981), thus making it a “second parameter” cluster. The latter, if interpreted in terms of age, would accordingly indicate that the metal-poor tail of the thick disk is at least as old as the oldest components of the Galactic halo. Third, the cluster has been classified into an Oosterhoff (1939, 1944) I (OoI) type, which is consistent with the relatively high metallicity of the cluster but in conflict with its HB type: with rare exceptions, blue HB clusters are commonly associated with type OoII (Contreras et al. 2005, 2010).

According to the Clement et al. (2001) catalog2, there are at present 24 variable stars known in the field of the cluster (in addition to a millisecond pulsar; Lyne et al. 1987). Of these, V1–V16 were discovered by Sawyer (1949), whereas V17–V24 were first discovered/reported on by Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1982, 1984). Updated ephemerides for these stars were provided in Wehlau & Butterworth (1990) and Wehlau & Clement (1990), which remain the most recent papers to deal with the (photographic) light curves of M 28 variable stars in a systematic way. Rees & Cudworth (1991) reported, again based on photographic plates, on three additional candidate variables in the direction of the cluster, which however have not yet been systematically studied, or even incorporated into the electronic version of the Clement et al. catalog.

There are strong reasons to believe that the current variable star tally for M 28 is incomplete. First, while M 28 is a very concentrated cluster, the photographic material which has been used in all previous variability studies does not allow the cluster core to be reliably resolved. Second, modern image-subtraction techniques (e.g., Alard & Lupton 1998; Alard 2000; Bramich 2008), when applied to modern CCD images, have recently been providing rich harvests of variable stars towards the centers of even the previously best studied GCs (see, e.g., Contreras et al. 2010; Kuehn et al. 2011, for recent examples). Accordingly, the main purpose of this paper is to provide the first CCD-based time-series photometry for the central regions of M 28, in order to search for additional variables that may have gone unnoticed in previous studies and to provide updated periods and light curves for previously studied variables.

We begin in Sect. 2 by describing out dataset and reduction techniques. In Sect. 3, we describe our variability results. A summary of our results is finally provided in Sect. 4.

2. Observations and data reduction

Our variability search is based on a total of 39 images in each of the Johnson-Cousins BVI filters, obtained in service mode with the SMARTS 1.3 m telescope at CTIO. The exposure times were 70, 25, and 15 s in B, V, and I, respectively. The images cover the period between June 2 and July 24, 2004, with 6 to 10 images obtained every 3 to 5 days.

The images were reduced in the standard way, using IRAF tasks3. A search for stellar variability was performed using ISIS v2.2 (Alard & Lupton 1998; Alard 2000), but modifying the search module so as to include candidates from all the available filters. For the variable star candidates detected, periods of variability were obtained using phase dispersion minimization (PDM; Stellingwerf 1978).

thumbnail Fig. 1

Finding chart for the newly discovered variable stars in M 28. The large image corresponds to a V-band image of the cluster, with the scale of the drawn blue square being 6.5 × 6.5     arcmin2. North is up and East is to the left. The five inner regions of the cluster where new variables have been detected are shown as blue circles superimposed on the main image. Blow-ups are shown for each of these regions, based on an F555W (V-band) Hubble Space Telescope image obtained with the WFPC2 camera (ID 6625, PI R. Buonanno). Each such circle covers a region of 30 arcsec diameter. In the top right, a 7.5 × 7.5     arcsec2 subregion of the circle containing NV3, NV6, and NV7 is shown on an expanded scale, for clarity.

3. Variable stars

Based on the variability search conducted with ISIS, we were able to find 25 variable stars with good photometry to reveal clean light curves. A finding chart with the new discoveries is given in Fig. 1. (For clarity, previously known variables are not shown in this chart. Finding charts indicating the positions of those variables, including those that fall outside our field of view, are provided by Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg1984.) Light curves for the individual variable stars (in relative flux units) are provided in Figs. 2 to 5. The detected variables include 6 ab-type RR Lyrae, only one of which is a new discovery. In addition, 9 c-type RR Lyrae were found, 6 of which being new discoveries, of which one is a possible field interloper. The previously reported RR Lyrae stars are confirmed in our data, as are the 4 type II Cepheids. However, two of these candidate Cepheids could not be cleanly classified on the basis of our data. In particular, for V21 we are not able to phase the data properly, which might suggest that the star is a long-period variable (LPV). This is surprising, since Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1984) present a nicely phased light curve for this star, using a period of 29.93 d. Unfortunately, the star appears saturated in the Alonso-García et al. (2012) study; however, its position in our own preliminary CMD (not shown) is not inconsistent with an LPV classification. For V22, instead of the favored period of 0.99538 d in the 2009 version of the Clement et al. (2001) catalog, which also comes from Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1984), our data favor a much shorter period, of 0.323 d, and so this star may be better classified as a c-type RR Lyrae. The position of the star in the Alonso-García et al. CMDs is fully consistent with a c-type classification. In Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1982) that reported the discovery of V22, a period of 0.498828 d was originally given, whereas in Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1984) a period of 0.498 d was given as an alternative, with a note also emphasizing that the star is blended in their images, which is supported by the large amount of scatter in their derived light curve. V21 and V22 are both fairly close to the center for such early photographic work.

The case of V20 is particularly intriguing. While previously a period of 0.49774 d was reported (Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg 1984), and the star classified as an ab-type RR Lyrae, we could not phase our data properly with this period. A period around 0.4948 d provides a better fit to our data, though with significant scatter. While this is consistent with Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg’s comment that the star is blended, its mean magnitude in our preliminary photometry is not noticeably brighter than the magnitudes of other RR Lyrae stars in the cluster, and neither is it much redder than many of the other RR Lyrae. The light curve shape supports an ab-type classification, even though a cleaner light curve for a definitive assessment would be desirable. The star’s position in the Alonso-García et al. (2012) CMDs is also fully consistent with an RRab classification. Unfortunately, our dataset is insufficient for an assessment of the incidence of the Blazhko (1907) effect among our studied stars.

As to the remaining stars, namely V2, V3, V7, and V10, we confirm the results of previous studies, in that the stars appear to vary on long timescales. For V2 and V3, we provide periods for the first time. V7 had a previously reported period of 320 d, which is much too long a timescale for our dataset to provide meaningful information regarding periodicity. In any case, its position in the Alonso-García et al. (2012) CMDs clearly confirm that it is a fairly metal-rich red giant star in the background. Finally, for V10 we are again unable to phase the light curve with a significant period. The remaining known variables not in our study generally fall outside our field of view: V1, V8, V9 (all ab-type RR Lyrae), V6 (an LPV), V15, V16 (both ab-type RR Lyrae belonging to the field). V14 is likely not variable, according to the Clement et al. (2001) catalog (see Wehlau & Butterworth 1990), even though Wehlau & Sawyer Hogg (1984) provide possible periods around 0.2688 d for this star.

Most of the variable star candidates listed by Rees & Cudworth (1991) could not be confirmed in our study. However, based on the position in their finding chart, and as indicated in Table 1, RC133 may be the same star as our NV5, even though the coordinates published in their paper do not exactly match ours. The matching to Rees & Cudworth was done by triangulation and by eye.

Table 1 summarizes our results. Column 1 gives the star name, whereas Cols. 2 and 3 give their right ascension and declination, respectively (epoch J2000). We derived celestial coordinates for all stars detected in our photometric study by comparison with bright stars obtained from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS; Skrutskie et al. 2006) catalog stars available through the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) website. Around 1300 stars were available as astrometric references within our image. A third-order polynomial fit, done with the IRAF task mscpeak, produced dispersions of σ ~ 0.2′′, consistent with the catalog precision. Column 4 gives our best-fitting period, with as many decimal places as justified on the basis of our data only, whereas Col. 5 gives the previously favored period. Column 6 gives the variability type favored by our data, whereas Col. 7 gives the previously favored variability type. The final column gives an alternative identification for the star, if available. Light curves for the individual variable stars (in relative flux units) are provided in Figs. 2 to 5.

Among the ab-type RR Lyrae in M 28, based on the magnitude values published in the online Clement et al. (2001) catalog, we associate as likely field variables not only stars V15, V16, and V24 (all of which are background stars), but also V9, which is about 1 mag brighter than the other bona fide cluster RR Lyrae stars, and is thus likely a foreground RR Lyrae. The newly discovered RRab, NV1, appears to be a bona-fide cluster member, judging from its position in the Alonso-García et al. (2012) CMDs.

Table 1

Variable stars in M 28.

As far as c-type RR Lyrae are concerned, no previous field interlopers had been known. Among the newly detected RRc’s, only NV3 appears clearly to be a foreground RR Lyrae, being as it is about 2 mag brighter than other RR Lyrae stars in the cluster, again according to the Alonso-García et al. (2012) CMDs.

For the RR Lyrae stars that are clearly cluster members, one obtains the following average quantities and population ratios: ⟨Pab ⟩ = 0.602 d (or 0.614 d, if we drop V20); ⟨Pc ⟩ = 0.304 d; fc = Nc/Nc + ab = 0.44 (or 0.47, if V20 is excluded). In addition, the minimum ab-type RR Lyrae period (Pab,min) and maximum c-type RR Lyrae period (Pc,max) are 0.4916 d and 0.329 d, respectively. These values are quite unusual among known GCs. In particular, both ⟨Pab ⟩  and Pab,min are more typical of Oosterhoff-intermediate systems (e.g., Catelan 2009; Catelan et al. 2012). As discussed by Catelan et al. (2012), these are the two quantities most strongly defining Oosterhoff status. Still, M 28’s ⟨Pc ⟩  value is clearly more typical of Oosterhoff type I systems, whereas the high c-type number fraction is more common in Oosterhoff type II systems. A “hybrid” Oosterhoff I/II system is accordingly another possibility, which raises the question of whether there might be multiple populations in this fairly massive cluster. Given the known connections between Oosterhoff status and formation history (e.g., Catelan 2009; Clementini 2010; van den Bergh 2011; Catelan et al. 2012), it would certainly be of interest to study the variable star content in M 28 using a more extensive dataset.

To close, we comment on the status of NV8. The star’s position in the Alonso-García et al. (2012) CMDs, fairly close to the tip of the red giant branch and at a fairly red color, is consistent with an LPV classification. This is why this star is grouped with other LPVs in Fig. 5. On the other hand, according to our time-series data, a period around 13.53 d provides a decent match of the light curve (Fig. 5). Such a period is, however, more consistent with a W Virginis (type II Cepheid) classification. Further analysis will clearly be necessary, before the variability nature of this star can be conclusively established.

4. Summary

We have presented the results of a new search for variable stars in M 28. Our search has led to the discovery of a number of previously unknown variables, most of which are c-type RR Lyrae stars. The properties of the ab-type RR Lyrae stars are most consistent with an Oosterhoff-intermediate classification, but this is not clearly supported by the properties of the c-type RR Lyrae stars. A “hybrid” Oosterhoff I/II classification is thus possible, raising the question as to whether multiple populations may be present in this fairly massive cluster. More extensive, higher-quality datasets will be required to put the properties of this cluster on a firmer basis.

Online material

thumbnail Fig. 2

Light curves of the ab-type RR Lyrae detected in this work, in the B (top panels), V (middle panels), and I (bottom panels), respectively.

thumbnail Fig. 3

As in Fig. 2, but for the c-type RR Lyrae.

thumbnail Fig. 4

As in Fig. 2, but for the type II Cepheids.

thumbnail Fig. 5

As in Fig. 2, but for the LPVs.

1

Unless otherwise noted, all cluster parameters in this paper are from Harris (1996, Dec. 2010 update).

3

IRAF is distributed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which are operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

Acknowledgments

We warmly thank C. M. Clement, E. D’Alessandro, J. Kaluzny, E. Tolstoy (the editor), and an anonymous referee for several comments that helped us improve our presentation. Support for M.C. and J.A.-G. is provided by the Ministry for the Economy, Development, and Tourism’s Programa Inicativa Científica Milenio through grant P07-021-F, awarded to The Milky Way Millennium Nucleus; by Proyecto Basal PFB-06/ 2007; by Proyecto FONDECYT Regular #1110326; and by Proyecto Anillo ACT-86. H.A.S. thanks the US National Science Foundation for support under grants AST 0607249 and AST 0707756. This publication makes use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey, which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.

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All Tables

Table 1

Variable stars in M 28.

In the text

All Figures

thumbnail Fig. 1

Finding chart for the newly discovered variable stars in M 28. The large image corresponds to a V-band image of the cluster, with the scale of the drawn blue square being 6.5 × 6.5     arcmin2. North is up and East is to the left. The five inner regions of the cluster where new variables have been detected are shown as blue circles superimposed on the main image. Blow-ups are shown for each of these regions, based on an F555W (V-band) Hubble Space Telescope image obtained with the WFPC2 camera (ID 6625, PI R. Buonanno). Each such circle covers a region of 30 arcsec diameter. In the top right, a 7.5 × 7.5     arcsec2 subregion of the circle containing NV3, NV6, and NV7 is shown on an expanded scale, for clarity.
In the text
thumbnail Fig. 2

Light curves of the ab-type RR Lyrae detected in this work, in the B (top panels), V (middle panels), and I (bottom panels), respectively.
In the text
thumbnail Fig. 3

As in Fig. 2, but for the c-type RR Lyrae.
In the text
thumbnail Fig. 4

As in Fig. 2, but for the type II Cepheids.
In the text
thumbnail Fig. 5

As in Fig. 2, but for the LPVs.
In the text

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