Related papers: Resolving the 47 Tucanae Distance Problem

A globular cluster distance scale based on Hipparcos parallaxes of subdwarfs has been used to derive estimates of M_K for cluster Miras, including one in the SMC globular cluster NGC121. These lead to a zero-point of the Mira infrared…

We observed the Galactic open cluster Berkeley 50 in order to determine its stellar content, distance, and age. We obtained UBV photometry of 1145 stars in a 12.3' $\times$ 12.3' field, and used Gaia proper motions and parallaxes to…

A large multicolour, wide-field photometric database of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy has been analysed using three different methods to provide revised distance estimates based on stellar populations in different age intervals. The…

The mean absolute magnitude of the local red clump (RC) is a very well determined quantity due to the availability of accurate HIPPARCOS parallaxes for several hundred RC stars, potentially allowing it to be used as an accurate…

We present BV CCD-data for 11 intermediate-age LMC clusters; the main conclusions are: 1. in the (V_to, V_cl,m) and (V-to, (V_to-V_cl,m)) planes the models yield a good overall description of the data; 2. with the current sample, it is…

The globular cluster 47~Tucanae (47~Tuc) is one of the most massive star clusters in the Milky Way and is exceptionally rich in exotic stellar populations. For several decades it has been a favorite target of observers, and yet it is…

With the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope, we have discovered in M4 (NGC 6121, C 1620-264) the first extensive sequence of cooling white dwarfs seen in a globular cluster. Adopting a distance modulus of…

UBVRI CCD photometry of a $2.^{\prime}1 \times 3.^{\prime}3$ field centered on the young open cluster Haffner~18 is presented and discussed. Spectroscopic classification of seven stars is also provided. 44 clusters members are identified,…

We present CCD photometry for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 4833. Our BVI color magnitude diagrams (CMD) extend from above the red giant branch (RGB) tip to several magnitudes below the main sequence turnoff. The principal sequences of…

(abridged) Recent investigations aimed at estimating the distance to the young LMC cluster NGC1866 have made use of Red Clump stars in the surrounding LMC field, together with empirical and theoretical Main-Sequence fitting methods, and…

We have obtained BVI CCD imaging of Berkeley 17, an anticentre open cluster that competes with NGC 6791 as the oldest known open cluster. Using the synthetic colour magnitude diagrams (CMD) technique with three sets of evolutionary tracks…

Multi-decade observing campaigns of the globular clusters 47 Tucanae and M15 have led to an outstanding number of discoveries. Here, we report on the latest results of the long-term observations of the pulsars in these two clusters. For…

We present V, B-V, and DDO C(41-42) and C(42-45) photometry for a sample of 75 red giants down to M_V = +2 in the relatively metal-rich Galactic globular cluster M71. The C(41-42) colors reveal a bimodal distribution of CN band strengths…

We present a BVI optical photometric study of the old open cluster Ruprecht 6 using the data obtained with the SMARTS 1.0 m telescope at the CTIO, Chile. Its color-magnitude diagrams show the clear existence of the main-sequence stars, of…

We present precise and deep optical photometry of the globular M92. Data were collected in three different photometric systems: Sloan Digital Sky Survey (g',r',i',z'; MegaCam@CFHT), Johnson-Kron-Cousins (B, V, I; various ground-based…

We investigate current problems in obtaining reliable ages for old stellar systems based on stellar population synthesis modelling of their integrated spectra. In particular, we address the large ages derived for the globular cluster 47…

We investigate in detail the white dwarf cooling sequence of the globular cluster Messier 4. In particular we study the influence of various systematic uncertainties, both observational and theoretical, on the determination of the cluster…

We show that the luminosity dependence of the red clump stars on age and metallicity can cause a difference of up to < ~0.6 mag in the mean absolute I magnitude of the red clump between different stellar populations. We show that this…

We have used deep HST WFPC2 observations of two fields in NGC 2420 to produce a cluster CMD down to V = 27. After imposing morphological selection criteria we find eight candidate white dwarfs in NGC 2420. Our completeness estimates…

The sigma Ori cluster is an unbound aggregate of a few hundred young, low-mass stars centered on the multiple system sigma Ori. This cluster is of great interest because it is at an age when roughly half of the stars have lost their…