NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0211
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0211 |
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PI: Christopher Sneden, University of Texas at Austin, chris@verdi.as.utexas.edu
Address: Astronomy Department, C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
CoI: Angela Bragaglia, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico Bologna
CoI: Eugenio Carretta, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico Bologna
CoI: Raffaele Gratton, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico Padova
CoI: Sara Lucatello, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico Padova
Title: Searching for Abundance Anomalies in the Old, Metal-rich Open Cluster NGC 6791
Abstract:
We plan to observe a large number of giant stars in the very
massive, very old, and very metal rich open cluster (OC) NGC 6791 using
Hydra@WIYN. Besides its extreme properties, this cluster has many
peculiarities, among which is the presence of extremely blue horizontal
branch stars -- a feature not present in open clusters, but common among
globular clusters (GCs). NGC 6791 is an ideal target to investigate the
(possible) existence of chemical "anomalies" in OCs such as the Na-O
anticorrelation that are found in all GCs. Having concentrated on GCs
in past studies, we wish to extend the knowledge of this phenomenon to
the OCs, trying to put constraints on the lower mass limit at which it
manifests. This will contribute to the understanding of the formation
and early evolution of clusters.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009A-0211 |
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