Star Clusters Willy Wassmer

Knowledge Base Stars have similar age Distances to Stellar Objects can be found from Parallax view Parallax View mages/parallax.gif

Distance Modulus D=m-M m represents apparent magnitude M represents absolute magnitude Example: D= *2.5* parsecs *√ parsecs * parsecs

Metallicity Fe/H Shows amount of fusion that has occurred Shows age

Mass Segregation Larger Stars move towards center Smaller stars move towards outer edges KE  mass*speed 2

Minimum Spanning Tree Prim algorithm Can be automated in excel AB C

Knowledge Base Cont. Globular Clusters Similar age 50 to 300 light years across Hundreds to 200 million stars Formed when the universe was very young Hercules Cluster Hercules Cluster astro.com/php/phpthumb/cache/phpThumb_cache_rc- astro.com_srce4d4565e800c0a1c8e17c177a7713b4e_par0ddf367c5f01d9ba090bf356b67 61f52_dat jpeg astro.com/php/phpthumb/cache/phpThumb_cache_rc- astro.com_srce4d4565e800c0a1c8e17c177a7713b4e_par0ddf367c5f01d9ba090bf356b67 61f52_dat jpeg

Knowledge Base Cont. Open Clusters Stars have relatively Same age Similar Chemical Composition Composed of Younger Stars which are bright and can be easily observed Pleiades, Beehive, Perseus (double cluster), M6 cluster, Hyads Pleiades g.jpg g.jpg

Using The Minimum Spanning Tree to Trace Mass Segregation quantified mass segregation Richard J. Allison 2009

Ages of Globular Clusters Derived From BVRI CCD Photometry By using different wavelengths a different method of determining cluster age is presented William Liller

Mass segregation patterns Observations and Theory of Star Cluster Formation Bruce G. Elmegreen

Purpose To search for a correlation between metallicity and Mass segregation ratio.

Candidates M39 M29 M103 M52 NGC 457 NGC 663 NGC 7790 NGC 7788 NGC 7209 NGC 7243 Pleiades- M45 Beehive Cluster- M44 Perseus Double Cluster-NGC The Butterfly Cluster or M6 M34 M35 M47 M46 Jewel Box Cluster- NGC 4755 Ptolemy Cluster- M7

Methodology Candidates Candidate Selection based on viewing time and altitude Images obtained using CCD imager Images processed and sharpened using MaxIm DL MST calculated using Prim algorithm Mass Segregation Formula by Richard J Allison Search for correlation between Metallicity and Mass Segregation Metallicity taken from surveys using National Virtual Observatory Distance Calculated using distance modulus

Do-Ability Materials are readily available –Computer –CCD imager –Telescope –National Virtual Observatory

Budget EquipmentCost CCD Imager MaxIm DL $1895 $ Site/Supplier

Bibliography The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright ©2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All Rights Reserved. Eugenio Carretta “Abundances in Red Giant Stars of NGC 2808 and Correlations between Chemical Anomalies and Global Parameters in Globular Clusters.” Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna. The Astronomical Journal, 2006 March. Lee, H.; Kim, S.-L.; Kim, H.-J. ; Jeon, Y.-B.; Park, H,-S. “New Variable Stars in the Open Cluster M103.” Konkoly Observatory, Budapest, 26 October 2005, Dept. of Earth Science Education, Korea National University of Education, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. Gonzalo Alcaino and William Liller “Ages of Globular Clusters Derived from BVRI CCD photometry.” Instituto Isaac Newton, Ministerio de Educación de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Societá Astronomica Italiana, Vol 57 No Prof. Fabrizio Mazzucconi, Enrico Albisetti and Bernardo Mannucci. “Atlas of The Skies: Journeying between the stars and planets in the discovery of the universe.”TAJ Books 2003 Mike Lynch. “The Essential guide to Our Night Sky: New York Starwatch.” Voyageur Press 2005 p.46 and 47 Elmegreen, Bruce G., Yuri Efremov, Ralph E. Pudritz, and Hans Zinnercker. “Observations and Theory of Star Cluster Formation.” Chandra X-ray Observatory (2008, April 29). Oldest Known Celestial Objects are Surprisingly Immature. Science Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from ESA Hubble Information Centre (2008, August 6). Thousands of Globular Clusters Identified in Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. Science Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from