Photometric observations of NGC 281: detection of 228 variable stars. Issue 1 (31st March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lata, Sneh; Pandey, A K; Pandey, J C; Panwar, Neelam; Paul, Paulomi
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 504:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2021-03-31
• Subjects: open clusters and associations: individual NGC 281 -- Hertzsprung–Russell and colour–magnitude diagram -- stars: pre-main-sequence -- stars: variables: T Tauri, Herbig Ae/B; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stab885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We identify 228 periodic variables in the region of young open cluster NGC 281 using time series photometry carried out from 1 m class ARIES telescopes, Nainital. The cluster membership of these identified variables is determined on the basis of colour–magnitude, two colour diagrams, and kinematic data. A total of 81 variable stars are found to be members of the cluster NGC 281. Of 81 variables, 30 and 51 are probable main-sequence and pre-main-sequence members, respectively. This study classifies main-sequence variable stars into different variability types according to their periods of variability, shape of light curves, and location in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. These identified main-sequence variables could be β Cep, δ Scuti, slowly pulsating B type, and new class variables. Among 51 pre-main-sequence variables, majority of them are weak line T Tauri stars. The remaining 147 variables could belong to the field population. The variability characteristics of the field population indicate that these variables could be RR Lyrae, δ Scuti, and binaries-type variables.