VARIABLE STARS IN THE OPEN CLUSTER NGC 7142
- Department of Astronomy, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 (United States)
- McDonald Observatory, University of Texas, HC75 Box 1337-L, Fort Davis, TX 79734 (United States)
We present new discoveries of variable stars near the turnoff of the old open cluster NGC 7142. Contrary to previous studies, we detect eight contact or near-contact eclipsing binaries (including three near the cluster turnoff), and most of these have good probability of being cluster members. We also identified one long-period variable that resides far to the red of the cluster giant branch, and four new detached eclipsing binaries. We have re-examined the question of distance and reddening for the cluster and find that the distance is larger and the reddening lower than in most previous studies. In turn this implies that NGC 7142 is probably slightly younger than M67, and is about 3 Gyr old. With an age of this size, NGC 7142 would be one of a small group of clusters with main-sequence turnoff stars at the transition between convective and radiative cores.
- OSTI ID:
- 22034329
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 142, Issue 6; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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