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Optical observations of NGC 2915: A nearby blue compact dwarf galaxy

This paper presents B and R band Charge Coupled Device (CCD) images and medium resolution spectroscopy of NGC 2915, a relatively isolated BCD (blue compact dwarf) galaxy at a distance of approximately 5 Mpc. NGC 2915 contains two stellar populations: a high surface brightness blue core population and a red diffuse population. The core population contains all of the H II, and numerous embedded objects. It is the locus of current high mass star formation. The brightest embedded objects are likely to be young ionizing clusters, while many of the fainter objects are likely to be individual supergiant stars with masses up to approximately 25 solar mass, or blends of a few such stars. Curious aligned structures on the SE side of the galaxy are seen and their nature discussed. The spectrum of the core is dominated by bright narrow emission lines like that of a high excitation and low metallicity (less than half solar) H II region. The continuum is flat, with Balmer and Ca II features seen in absorption. The velocity of the Ca II features suggest contamination by galactic interstellar absorption. There is a significant velocity gradient in the spectra, probably indicative of rotation. Outside of its core, NGC 2915 resembles a dE (dwarf elliptical) galaxy, in that it has an exponential surface brightness profile, is red ((B-R)(sub 0) = 1.65), and has a low extrapolated central surface brightness (B(0)(sub c) = 22.44). NGC 2915's properties are compared with other BCDs, concentrating on two morphologically similar BCDs that are near enough to resolve into stars: NGC 1705 and NGC 5253. It is noted that the presence of winds in BCDs invalidates closed box chemical evolution models and the remaining constraints on star formation duration are relatively weak. Some BCDs, including NGC 2915, may be able to maintain their present star formation rate for Gyr time scales. This suggests that the overall evolution of these BCDs may be much slower than the approximately 10 Myr burst time scales commonly quoted. However, shortly after the formation of a massive (10(exp 6) solar mass) cluster a BCD will have all the properties of strong starburst galaxy).

Meurer, G. R.↗

Cosmic ray models for early galactic lithium, beryllium, and boron production

To better understand the early galactic production of Li, Be, and B by cosmic ray spallation and fusion reactions, the dependence of these production rates on cosmic ray models and model parameters is examined. The sensitivity of elemental and isotropic production to the cosmic ray pathlength magnitude and energy dependence, source spectrum spallation kinematics, and cross section uncertainties is studied. Changes in these model features, particularly those features related to confinement, are shown to alter the Be- and B-versus-Fe slopes from a naive quadratic relation. The implications of our results for the diffuse gamma-ray background are examined, and the role of chemical evolution and its relation to our results is noted. It is also noted that the unmeasured high energy behavior of alpha + alpha fusion can lead to effects as large as a factor of 2 in the resultant yields. Future data should enable Population II Li, Be, and B abundances to constrain cosmic ray models for the early Galaxy.

Fields, Brian D.↗

The APOGEE value-added catalogue of Galactic globular cluster stars

ABSTRACT We introduce the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)/ Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) value-added catalogue of Galactic globular cluster (GC) stars. The catalogue is the result of a critical search of the APOGEE Data Release 17 (DR17) catalogue for candidate members of all known Galactic GCs. Candidate members are assigned to various GCs on the basis of position in the sky, proper motion, and radial velocity. The catalogue contains a total of 7737 entries for 6422 unique stars associated with 72 Galactic GCs. Full APOGEE DR17 information is provided, including radial velocities and abundances for up to 20 elements. Membership probabilities estimated on the basis of precision radial velocities are made available. Comparisons with chemical compositions derived from the GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey, as well as optical values from the literature, show good agreement. This catalogue represents a significant increase in the public data base of GC star chemical compositions and kinematics, providing a massive homogeneous data set that will enable a variety of studies. The catalogue in fits format is available for public download from the SDSS-IV DR17 value-added catalogue website.

Schiavon, Ricardo P. (ORCID:0000000222440897)↗

Isotopic Composition of Silicon Carbide in the CO3 Chondrite Colony

Presolar grains have been identified in primitive members of all chondrite classes. The isotopic compositions of presolar grains provide probes of galactic evolution and nucleosynthesis in stars, while the abundances and characteristics of presolar grains contain a record of thermal processing in the solar system. Most of the detailed isotopic work has been done on SiC from Murchison and Orgueil, supplemented by a few studies of ordinary and enstatite chondrites. This work investigates SiC in the Colony CO3.O meteorite. SiC is present in Colony at a matrix-normalized abundance of approximately 3.7 ppm, much less than in CI chondrites and the matrixes of CM and primitive ordinary and enstatite chondrites. The abundances of SiC and other presolar grains in Colony seem to correlate with the chemical processing that produced CO3 chondrites. This implies that the known presolar grains experienced the same processing as the bulk CO3 material and assumes that the parent material was the same as that for other chondrites, including CI. That parent material is most plausibly the average material in the sun s parent molecular cloud. One test of this idea is to look for primary differences between SiC in Colony (and other meteorites) and that in CI and CM chondrites. True differences not related to thermal processing would falsify the assumption that all chondrite classes originated from the same reservoir of presolar dust.

Smith, J. B.↗

Rapid early gas accretion for the inner Galactic disc: A case for short accretion timescale

Recent observations of the Milky Way and galaxies at high redshifts suggest that galaxy discs were already in place soon after the Big Bang. While the gas infall history of the Milky Way in the inner disc has long been assumed to be characterised by a short accretion timescale, this has not been directly constrained using observations. Using data for the inner regions of the Milky Way recently produced by APOGEE and Gaia and of unprecedented quantity and quality, we aim to derive strong constraints on the infall history of the inner (< 6 kpc) Galaxy (with a focus on stars between 4 and 6 kpc, which we show is an appropriate proxy for the entire inner disc). We implemented gas infall into a chemical evolution model of the Galaxy disc, and used a Schmidt–Kennicutt law to connect the infall to the star formation. We explore a number of models, and two different formulations of the infall law. In one formulation, the infall is non-parametric, and in the other the infall has an explicitly exponential form. We fit the model parameters to the time–[Si/Fe] distribution of solar vicinity stars, and the metallicity and [Si/Fe] distribution function of stars with a galactocentric radius of between 4 and 6 kpc from APOGEE. Our results point to a fast, early gas accretion, and an upper limit on the accretion timescale of around 2 Gyr in the inner disc of the Milky Way. This suggests that at least half the baryons were in place within 2–3 Gyr of the Big Bang, and that half the stars of the inner disc formed within the first 5 Gyr, during the thick disc formation phase. This implies that the stellar mass of the inner disc is dominated by the thick disc, supporting our previous work, and that the gas accretion onto the inner disc was rapid and early.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cosmic-ray models for early Galactic Lithium, Beryllium, and Boron production

To understand better the early Galactic production of Li, Be, and B by comsmic-ray spallation and fusion reactions, the dependence of these production rates on cosmic-ray models and model parameters is examined. The sensitivity of elemental and isotopic production to the cosmic-ray path length magnitude and energy dependence, source spectrum, spallation kinematics, and cross section uncertainties is studied. Changes in these model features, particularly those features related to confinement, are shown to alter the Be- and B- versus-Fe slopes from a naive quadratic relation. The implications of our results for the diffuse gamma-ray background are examined, and the role of chemical evolution and its relation to our results is noted. It is also noted that the unmeasured high-energy behavior of alpha + alpha fusion can lead to effects as large as a factor of 2 in the resultant yields. Future data should enable Population II Li, Be, and B abundances to constrain cosmic-ray models for the early Galaxy.

Fields, Brian D.↗

Radio wavelength observations of the L134N molecular core

A detailed study of the L134N dense molecular core through radio astronomical observations of spectral lines at millimeter and centimeter wavelengths is presented. The prototypical dark cloud was chosen for the following reasons: it is a nearby cloud at a distance of 160 pc, and thus radio observations have high spatial resolution; it resides out of the galactic disk, providing unobscured viewing along the line of sight; and it is known to be a rich source of molecular emission. The absence af any embedded infrared sources leads to the assumption that L134N is either in a stage of evolution prior to star formation or is a cloud in which internal support will prohibit a star from forming. A spectral line survey of 24 molecular transitions at up to seven positions in the L134N core, and observations of molecular emission from C18O, CSm, H13CO+, SO, NH3, and C3H2 are reviewed. Results indicate different spatial distributions for each species which may be attributed to variations in the excitation conditions for each transition or chemical abundance variations within the cloud core. Observational techniques and results are presented.

Swade, Daryl A.↗

The ones that got away: chemical tagging of globular cluster-origin stars with Gaia BP/RP spectra

ABSTRACT Globular clusters (GCs) are sites of extremely efficient star formation, and recent studies suggest they significantly contributed to the early Milky Way’s stellar mass build-up. Although their role has since diminished, GCs’ impact on the Galaxy’s initial evolution can be traced today by identifying their most chemically unique stars – those with anomalous nitrogen and aluminum overabundances and oxygen depletion. While they are a perfect tracer of clusters, be it intact or fully dissolved, these high-[N/O], high-[Al/Fe] GC-origin stars are extremely rare within the current Galaxy. To address the scarcity of these unusual, precious former GC members, we train a neural network (NN) to identify high-[N/O], high-[Al/Fe] stars using low-resolution Gaia Blue Photometer/Red Photometer spectra. Our NN achieves a classification accuracy of approximately $\approx 99~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ and a false positive rate of around $\approx 7~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, identifying 878 new candidates in the Galactic field. We validate our results with several physically motivated sanity checks, showing, for example, that the incidence of selected stars in Galactic GCs is significantly higher than in the field. Moreover, we find that most of our GC-origin candidates reside in the inner Galaxy, having likely formed in the proto-Milky Way, consistent with previous research. The fraction of GC candidates in the field drops at a metallicity of [Fe/H]$\approx -1$, approximately coinciding with the completion of spin-up, i.e. the formation of the Galactic stellar disc.

Kane, Sarah G. (ORCID:0000000184111012)↗

New insights on the nebular emission, ionizing radiation, and low metallicity of Green Peas from advanced modelling

ABSTRACT Low-metallicity, compact starburst galaxies referred to as Green Peas (GPs) provide a unique window to study galactic evolution across cosmic epochs. In this work, we present new deep optical spectra for three GPs from OSIRIS at the 10-m Gran Telescopio Canarias, which are studied using a state-of-the-art methodology. A stellar population synthesis is conducted with 1098 spectral templates. The methodology succeeds at characterizing stellar populations from 0.5 Myr to 10 Gyr. The light distribution shows a large red excess from a single population with ${log}\left({age}\right) \gt 8.5\, \mathrm{yr}$ in the GP sample analysed. This points towards an incomplete characterization of the gas luminosity, whose continuum already accounts between 7.4 and $27.6{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ in the galaxy sample. The emission spectra are fitted with the largest Bayesian chemical model consisting of an electron temperature, an electron density, the logarithmic extinction coefficient and eleven ionic species under the direct method paradigm. Additionally, building on previous work, we propose a neural networks sampler to constrain the effective temperature and ionization parameter of each source from photoionization model grids. Finally, we combine both methodologies into a 16-dimensional model, which for the first time, simultaneously explores the direct method and photoionization parameter spaces. Both techniques consistently indicate a low-metallicity gas, $7.76\lt 12+{\rm log}\left(O/H \right)\lt 8.04$, ionized by strong radiation fields, in agreement with previous works.

Fernández, V. (ORCID:0000000305315450)↗

In the search for extraterrestrial life

The study of stellar, planetary and galactic evolution leads to the conclusion that the phenomenon of life must be coursing through the universe. It is estimated, by means of telescopic sampling, that there are billions of stars capable of having those photochemical reactions necessary for the origin of life. One approach in the search for other life would be to deploy men and instruments in spacecraft. Radio contact with other civilizations is another approach. Finally, the question might be approached by considering life as an inevitable consequence of the evolution of matter. A survey of Martian characteristics shows the possibility of life there to be dubious. The possibility of life in other parts of the galaxy is supported by a fundamental conclusion of living matter that all organisms have a common chemical ancestry. The experiment of Urey and Miller, wherein four amino acids were obtained by subjecting a mixture of methane, ammonia, and water to an electric arc, is believed to duplicate the initial organic syntheses which led to the emergence of life on earth.

Ponnamperuma, C.↗

Science with the James Webb Space Telescope

The science objectives of the James Webb Space Telescope fall into four themes. The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization theme seeks to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization history of the universe. The Assembly of Galaxies theme seeks to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas, stars, metals, morphological structures, and black holes within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the present. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme seeks to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars, from infall onto dust-enshrouded protostars, to the genesis of planetary systems. The Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life theme seeks to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems around nearby stars and of our own, and to investigate the potential for life in those systems. These four science themes were used to establish the design requirements for the observatory and instrumentation. Since Webb's capabilities are unique, those science themes will remain relevant through launch and operations and goals contained within these themes will continue to guide the design and implementation choices for the mission. More recently, it has also become clear that Webb will make major contributions to other areas of research, including dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, stellar populations, exoplanet characterization and Solar System objects. In this paper, we review the original four science themes and discuss how the scientific output of Webb will extend to these new areas of research. The James Webb Space Telescope was designed to meet science objectives in four themes: The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization, The Assembly of Galaxies, The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems, and Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life. More recently, it has become clear that Webb will also make major contributions to studies of dark energy, dark matter, active galactic nuclei, stellar populations, exoplanet characterization and Solar System objects. We review the original four science themes and discuss how the scientific output of Webb will extend to these new areas of research.

Gardner, Jonathan P.↗

Spectroscopic Observations of Obscured Populations in the Inner Galaxy: 2MASS-GC02, Terzan 4, and the 200 km s{sup −1} stellar peak

The interpretation of potentially new and already known stellar structures located at low latitudes is hindered by the presence of dense gas and dust, as observations toward these sight lines are limited. We have identified Apache Point Observatory Galaxy Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) stars belonging to the low-latitude globular clusters 2MASS-GC02 and Terzan 4, presenting the first chemical element abundances of stars residing in these poorly studied clusters. As expected, the signature of multiple populations coexisting in these metal-rich clusters is evident. We redetermine the radial velocity of 2MASS-GC02 to be −87 ± 7 km s{sup −1}, finding that this cluster’s heliocentric radial velocity is offset by more than 150 km s{sup −1} from the literature value. We investigate a potentially new low-latitude stellar structure and a kiloparsec-scale nuclear disk (or ring) that has been put forward to explain a high-velocity (V {sub GSR} ∼ 200 km s{sup −1}) peak reported in several Galactic bulge fields based on the APOGEE commissioning observations. New radial velocities of field stars at (l, b) = (−6°,0 °) are presented and combined with the APOGEE observations at negative longitudes to carry out this search. Unfortunately no prominent −200 km s{sup −1} peak at negative longitudes along the plane of the Milky Way are apparent, as predicted for the signature of a nuclear feature. The distances and Gaia EDR3 proper motions of the high-V {sub GSR} stars do not support the current models of stars on bar-supporting orbits as an explanation of the +200 km s{sup −1} peak.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

On the origin and evolution of isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen

Calculations of CNO processing in stellar envelopes, based on theoretical nucleosynthesis rather than empirical abundances in evolving stars, are presented and used in two models for the chemical evolution of the solar neighborhood. Seven stable isotopes are considered: C-12, C-13, N-14, N-15, O-16, O-17, and O-18. The two models ('infall' and 'initial-burst') represent extremes of types consistent with general constraints and include theoretical estimates of other nucleosynthesis sites and yields for CNO isotopes. The results obtained are found to predict that all CNO isotopes are produced mainly by stars with lifetimes much less than the age of the Galaxy (even at the present time when low-mass stars have the greatest death rate), so that isotopic ratios evolve very slowly after the first few billion years. Consequences of these slow changes are that the isotopic ratios cannot be employed to test between alternative hypotheses and that galactic evolution does not seem to be able to account for the apparent difference between the C-13/C-12 ratio in the solar system and in molecular clouds. The predicted envelope processing is shown to lead to approximately the solar-system values for the C-13/C-12 and O-17/O-16 abundance ratios but to a N-14/C-12 ratio that is too small by at least a factor of 2.

Dearborn, D.↗

The Milky Way Revealed by Variable Stars. I. Sample Selection of RR Lyrae Stars and Evidence for Merger History

In order to study the Milky Way, RR Lyrae (RRL) variable stars identified by Gaia, ASAS-SN, and ZTF sky survey projects have been analyzed as tracers in this work. Photometric and spectroscopic information of 3417 RRLs including proper motions, radial velocity, and metallcity are obtained from observational data of Gaia, LAMOST, GALAH, APOGEE, and RAVE. Precise distances of RRLs with typical uncertainties less than 3% are derived by using a recent comprehensive period–luminosity–metallicity relation. Our results from kinematical and chemical analysis provide important clues for the assembly history of the Milky Way, especially for the Gaia–Sausage ancient merger. The kinematical and chemical trends found in this work are consistent with those of recent simulations that indicated that the Gaia–Sausage merger had a dual origin in the Galactic thick disk and halo. As recent similar works have found, the halo RRL sample in this work contains a subset of radially biased orbits besides a more isotropic component. This higher orbital anisotropy component amounts to β ≃ 0.8, and it contributes between 42% and 83% of the halo RRLs at 4 < R( kpc) < 20.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Nitrogen and Carbon Isotopic Composition of Silicon Carbide in the CO3.0 Meteorite ALHA 77307, a NanoSIMS Study

Presolar grains have been identified in primitive members of all chondrite classes [1, 2]. The study of the isotopic compositions of presolar grains provides information on galactic evolution and nucleosynthesis in stars [3, 4], while the abundances and characteristics of presolar grains contain a record of thermal processing in the solar system [2, 5]. Much of the detailed work on presolar silicon carbide grains has focused on Murchison [e.g., 2] and Orgueil [4], but several other carbonaceous [6, 7], ordinary, and enstatite chondrites [8-11] have also been studied. This study investigates the isotopic composition of silicon carbide from the CO3.0 carbonaceous chondrites ALHA77307 and Colony. SiC is present in ALHA77307 at a matrix normalized abundance of ~8.8 ppm [5], which is approximately twice the abundance of Colony [5], but less than in CI chondrites and the matrices of CM and primitive ordinary and enstatite chondrites [3]. The abundances of SiC and other presolar grains in ALHA77307 seem to correlate with the degree of chemical processing that produced CO3 chondrites [2, 5]. This implies that the same nebular processing that produced the bulk composition of the CO3 chondrite class also modified the assemblage of known presolar grains [5]. To test whether all chondrite classes originated from the same reservoir of presolar dust it is necessary to look for primary differences, not related to thermal processing, between SiC in CO3 chondrites and other chondritic meteorites.

Smith, J. B.↗

Strontium-84 Enrichments in Presolar Grains Provide First Evidence of p -process Nucleosynthesis in Core-collapse Supernovae

This study reports detection of rare p-process isotopes within presolar grains. Presolar grains are relic dust grains from dying stars. These microscopic dust particles are found in primitive solar system materials. Their distinct isotopic compositions record the nucleosynthetic processes in their parent stars and the Galactic chemical environment in which these stars formed. We studied presolar graphite grains of high-density type from the Murchison meteorite and found five grains with subgrains that show enrichments in 84 Sr compared to the solar abundance. 84 Sr is the neutron-deficient isotope of strontium that can be produced in the deep oxygen-rich interior of high-mass stars that end their lives as core-collapse supernovae. The observed 84 Sr excesses cannot be produced in low-mass asymptotic giant branch stars, the source of most high-density presolar graphites found in meteorites. High-density graphites with embedded 84 Sr excesses are, instead, compatible with a core-collapse supernovae origin. The graphite subgrains condensed from carbon-rich materials in the outer layers of core-collapse supernovae, where 84 Sr was destroyed by neutron captures during hydrostatic evolution of the stars and their final explosion. Based on current theoretical stellar models, a few percent of contribution from the inner regions of core-collapse supernovae, which are enriched in p-process nuclides, to the outer carbon-rich regions is the most likely explanation for the observed enrichment of 84 Sr in the subgrains of the high-density graphites. In this study, we present the first observational evidence that core-collapse supernovae produce and eject isotopes made by the p-process.

Astronomy and AstroPhysics↗

Chemical Mapping of Vesta and Ceres

Following successful science operations at Vesta, the Dawn spacecraft is headed for an encounter with Ceres in 2015. What have we learned at Vesta? And, what do we expect to learn by comparing Vesta and Ceres? We will address these questions from the standpoint of geochemistry. Dawn's Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) is sensitive to the elemental composition of surface materials to depths of a few decimeters [1]. Gamma rays and neutrons, produced by the steady bombardment of galactic cosmic rays and by the decay of naturally ]occurring radioisotopes (K, Th, U), provide a chemical fingerprint of the regolith. Analysis of planetary radiation emissions enables mapping of specific elements (such as Fe, Mg, Si, Cl, and H) and compositional parameters (such as average atomic mass), which provide information about processes that shaped the planet1s surface and interior. Dawn has exceeded operational goals for GRaND at Vesta, accumulating an abundance of nadir-pointed data during five months in a 210 km, low altitude mapping orbit around Vesta (265-km mean radius). Chemical information from gamma ray and neutron measurements was used to test the connection between Vesta and the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) meteorites [2]. Additionally, GRaND searched for evolved, igneous lithologies [3], mantle and upper crustal materials exposed in large impact basins, mesosiderite compositions, and hydrogen in Vesta1s bulk regolith. Results of our analyses and their implications for thermal evolution and regolith-processes will be presented. The possibility of a subcrustal ocean [4, 5] and lack of cerean meteorites makes water-rich Ceres a compelling target of exploration [6]. If Ceres underwent aqueous differentiation, then crustal overturn or gas driven volcanism may have significantly modified its primitive surface; and products of aqueous alteration (e.g. [7]) would detectable by GRaND [1]. For example, the presence of Cl in salts, associated with liquid-water-processes, would have a profound effect on the thermal neutron leakage flux. GRaND is sensitive to H and H-layering, which may be in the form of endogenic water ice or hydrous minerals on Ceres. Ammonia ice (e.g., from recent cryovolcanism) would produce a distinctly different neutron signature than water ice [1]. Prospective results for GRaND at Ceres will be presented in the context of what we have learned about Vesta.

Prettyman, Thomas H.↗

On the evolution of slowly accreting neutron stars

In the light of recent calculations of pycnonuclear reaction rates for light elements, we consider the problem of slow interstellar accretion onto old, possibly magnetized neutron stars. We argue that accretion will occur at the Hoyle-Lyttleton rate after the star has spun down in less than about 10 exp 9 yr. A deep ocean of liquid hydrogen and helium, extending down to depths about 100 m, will cover the surface of the star once it has accreted about 10 exp 25 g of gas. Beneath the ocean will be a layer of almost pure solid O-16 which undergoes two-stage electron capture to C-16 above a pressure 2.7 x 10 exp 28 dyne/sq cm, corresponding to an accreted mass of about 10 exp 27 g. Taking into account the presence of multiple layers of distinct chemical composition, we conclude that the crust will be stable to small perturbations under the conditions envisaged for instellar accretion. A thick layer of up to 10 exp 27 g of metastable C-16 will then accumulate. We discuss the implications of these results to old Galactic neutron stars as sources of gamma-ray bursts.

Blaes, O. M.↗