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HD 55966 (VZ Camelopardalis)


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Local kinematics of K and M giants from CORAVEL/Hipparcos/Tycho-2 data. Revisiting the concept of superclusters
The availability of the Hipparcos Catalogue has triggered many kinematicand dynamical studies of the solar neighbourhood. Nevertheless, thosestudies generally lacked the third component of the space velocities,i.e., the radial velocities. This work presents the kinematic analysisof 5952 K and 739 M giants in the solar neighbourhood which includes forthe first time radial velocity data from a large survey performed withthe CORAVEL spectrovelocimeter. It also uses proper motions from theTycho-2 catalogue, which are expected to be more accurate than theHipparcos ones. An important by-product of this study is the observedfraction of only 5.7% of spectroscopic binaries among M giants ascompared to 13.7% for K giants. After excluding the binaries for whichno center-of-mass velocity could be estimated, 5311 K and 719 M giantsremain in the final sample. The UV-plane constructed from these datafor the stars with precise parallaxes (σπ/π≤20%) reveals a rich small-scale structure, with several clumpscorresponding to the Hercules stream, the Sirius moving group, and theHyades and Pleiades superclusters. A maximum-likelihood method, based ona Bayesian approach, has been applied to the data, in order to make fulluse of all the available stars (not only those with precise parallaxes)and to derive the kinematic properties of these subgroups. Isochrones inthe Hertzsprung-Russell diagram reveal a very wide range of ages forstars belonging to these groups. These groups are most probably relatedto the dynamical perturbation by transient spiral waves (as recentlymodelled by De Simone et al. \cite{Simone2004}) rather than to clusterremnants. A possible explanation for the presence of younggroup/clusters in the same area of the UV-plane is that they have beenput there by the spiral wave associated with their formation, while thekinematics of the older stars of our sample has also been disturbed bythe same wave. The emerging picture is thus one of dynamical streamspervading the solar neighbourhood and travelling in the Galaxy withsimilar space velocities. The term dynamical stream is more appropriatethan the traditional term supercluster since it involves stars ofdifferent ages, not born at the same place nor at the same time. Theposition of those streams in the UV-plane is responsible for the vertexdeviation of 16.2o ± 5.6o for the wholesample. Our study suggests that the vertex deviation for youngerpopulations could have the same dynamical origin. The underlyingvelocity ellipsoid, extracted by the maximum-likelihood method afterremoval of the streams, is not centered on the value commonly acceptedfor the radial antisolar motion: it is centered on < U > =-2.78±1.07 km s-1. However, the full data set(including the various streams) does yield the usual value for theradial solar motion, when properly accounting for the biases inherent tothis kind of analysis (namely, < U > = -10.25±0.15 kms-1). This discrepancy clearly raises the essential questionof how to derive the solar motion in the presence of dynamicalperturbations altering the kinematics of the solar neighbourhood: doesthere exist in the solar neighbourhood a subset of stars having no netradial motion which can be used as a reference against which to measurethe solar motion?Based on observations performed at the Swiss 1m-telescope at OHP,France, and on data from the ESA Hipparcos astrometry satellite.Full Table \ref{taba1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/430/165}

Period-luminosity relation for M-type semiregular variables from Hipparcos parallaxes
We have studied the period-luminosity (P-L) relationships of oxygen-richsemiregular (SR) variables in several wavelength bands using Hipparcosparallaxes with an accuracy of better than 10 per cent. We have shownthat there is a clear dependence on period of absolute magnitude in theU,B,V,R,IC,J,H,K,L,M,N, [12], [25], [60] and [100] bands, andthat the slope of the linear Mλ- logP relation is asmooth function of wavelength. We point out that this relation can inprinciple be used to derive absolute bolometric magnitude as a functionof period.The behaviour of the second periods of SR variables in the P-L relationin the V and K bands is also discussed.

Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997

Polarimetry of 167 Cool Variable Stars: Data
Multicolor photoelectric polarimetry is presented for 167 stars, most ofwhich are variable stars. The observations constitute a data set thatfor some stars covers a time span of 35 yr. Complex variations are foundover time and wavelength and in both the amount of polarization and itsposition angle, providing constraints for understanding the polarizingenvironments in and around these cool stars.

Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr).

Sixth Catalogue of Fundamental Stars (FK6). Part III. Additional fundamental stars with direct solutions
The FK6 is a suitable combination of the results of the HIPPARCOSastrometry satellite with ground-based data, measured over a longinterval of time and summarized mainly in the FK5. Part III of the FK6(abbreviated FK6(III)) contains additional fundamental stars with directsolutions. Such direct solutions are appropriate for single stars or forobjects which can be treated like single stars. Part III of the FK6contains in total 3272 stars. Their ground-based data stem from thebright extension of the FK5 (735 stars), from the catalogue of remainingSup stars (RSup, 732 stars), and from the faint extension of the FK5(1805 stars). From the 3272 stars in Part III, we have selected 1928objects as "astrometrically excellent stars", since their instantaneousproper motions and their mean (time-averaged) ones do not differsignificantly. Hence most of the astrometrically excellent stars arewell-behaving "single-star candidates" with good astrometric data. Thesestars are most suited for high-precision astrometry. On the other hand,354 of the stars in Part III are Δμ binaries in the sense ofWielen et al. (1999). Many of them are newly discovered probablebinaries with no other hitherto known indication of binarity. The FK6gives, besides the classical "single-star mode" solutions (SI mode),other solutions which take into account the fact that hidden astrometricbinaries among "apparently single-stars" introduce sizable "cosmicerrors" into the quasi-instantaneously measured HIPPARCOS proper motionsand positions. The FK6 gives, in addition to the SI mode, the "long-termprediction (LTP) mode" and the "short-term prediction (STP) mode". TheseLTP and STP modes are on average the most precise solutions forapparently single stars, depending on the epoch difference with respectto the HIPPARCOS epoch of about 1991. The typical mean error of anFK6(III) proper motion in the single-star mode is 0.59 mas/year. This isa factor of 1.34 better than the typical HIPPARCOS errors for thesestars of 0.79 mas/year. In the long-term prediction mode, in whichcosmic errors are taken into account, the FK6(III) proper motions have atypical mean error of 0.93 mas/year, which is by a factor of about 2better than the corresponding error for the HIPPARCOS values of 1.83mas/year (cosmic errors included).

Stellar radii of M giants
We determine the stellar radii of the M giant stars in the Hipparcoscatalogue that have a parallax measured to better than 20% accuracy.This is done with the help of a relation between a visual surfacebrightness parameter and the Cousins (V - I) colour index, which wecalibrate with M giants with published angular diameters.The radii of(non-Mira) M giants increase from a median value of 50 R_Sun at spectraltype M0 III to 170 R_Sun at M7/8 III. Typical intermediate giant radiiare 65 R_Sun for M1/M2, 90 R_Sun for M3, 100 R_Sun for M4, 120 R_Sun forM5 and 150 R_Sun for M6. There is a large intrinsic spread for a givenspectral type. This variance in stellar radius increases with latertypes but in relative terms, it remains constant.We determineluminosities and, from evolutionary tracks, stellar masses for oursample stars. The M giants in the solar neighbourhood have masses in therange 0.8-4 M_Sun. For a given spectral type, there is a close relationbetween stellar radius and stellar mass. We also find a linear relationbetween the mass and radius of non-variable M giants. With increasingamplitude of variability we have larger stellar radii for a given mass.

The Tokyo PMC catalog 90-93: Catalog of positions of 6649 stars observed in 1990 through 1993 with Tokyo photoelectric meridian circle
The sixth annual catalog of the Tokyo Photoelectric Meridian Circle(PMC) is presented for 6649 stars which were observed at least two timesin January 1990 through March 1993. The mean positions of the starsobserved are given in the catalog at the corresponding mean epochs ofobservations of individual stars. The coordinates of the catalog arebased on the FK5 system, and referred to the equinox and equator ofJ2000.0. The mean local deviations of the observed positions from theFK5 catalog positions are constructed for the basic FK5 stars to comparewith those of the Tokyo PMC Catalog 89 and preliminary Hipparcos resultsof H30.

Classification and Identification of IRAS Sources with Low-Resolution Spectra
IRAS low-resolution spectra were extracted for 11,224 IRAS sources.These spectra were classified into astrophysical classes, based on thepresence of emission and absorption features and on the shape of thecontinuum. Counterparts of these IRAS sources in existing optical andinfrared catalogs are identified, and their optical spectral types arelisted if they are known. The correlations between thephotospheric/optical and circumstellar/infrared classification arediscussed.

The energy distribution in the visible spectrum for 27 class M giants and supergiants
Not Available

Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.

Photometry of yellow semiregular variables - AC Herculis, R Sagittae and V Vulpeculae
Three RV Tauri variables - AC Her, R Sge, and V Vul - have been observedphotoelectrically since 1984. Their current periods are 75.48 d for ACHer, 69.74 d for R Sge, and 75.35 d for V Vul. The light curves of ACHer and R Sge are quite similar and show the usual RV Tauri-like form.The secondary minima of V Vul, however, is very shallow. Period analysisrevealed the presence of the fundamental period and its harmonics (twoor three). All of the three stars show cyclic period changes, the causeof which is still unknown. The expected long-term period change is notdetected in R Sge and V Vul, but this is probably the result of the fewobserved cycles in the O-C diagram. Frequency clustering around one ortwo principal frequencies is found in all three stars. Possible causesfor this phenomenon, such as amplitude or period changes, are suggested.The question of the pulsation period of RV Tauri stars is alsodiscussed, the formal period being the preferred choice. Since alltheoretical models fail to reproduce the periods of RV Tauri variables,there is no possibility to compare the observed properties of thesestars to model predictions. Some discrepancies in the derived propertiesof AC Her are pointed out, too.

The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) Photoelectric Photometry Archive
Not Available

Asymptotic giant branch stars near the sun
Available red and near-infrared photometry and apparent motions of M, S,and C asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Bright Star Catalogueare tabulated and discussed. It is shown that the red and near infraredindices normally used for late-type stars are interchangeable except forcarbon stars. The M-type giants are variable with visual amplitudegreater than 0.05 mag. The reddening-free parameter m2 from Genevaphotometry is essentially a temperature parameter for M giants, whilethe reddening-free parameter d is a sensitive detector of blue stellarcompanions. The space density of AGB stars near the sun decreases by afactor of 35 in a temperature range 3800 to 3400 K. Two of the S starsnear the sun were found to have nearly equal space motions and may becomembers of the Arcturus group.

Fifth fundamental catalogue. Part 2: The FK5 extension - new fundamental stars
The mean positions and proper motions for 3117 new fundamental starsessentially in the magnitude range about 4.5 to 9.5 are given in thisFK5 extension. Mean apparent visual magnitude is 7.2 and is on average2.5 magnitudes fainter then the basic FK5 which has a mean magnitude of4.7. (The basic FK5 gives the mean positions and proper motions for theclassical 1535 fundamental stars). The following are discussed: theobservational material, reduction of observations, star selection, andthe system for the FK5 extension. An explanation and description of thecatalog are given. The catalog of 3117 fundamental stars for the equinoxand epoch J2000.0 and B1950.0 is presented. The parallaxes and radialvelocities for 22 extension stars with large forecasting effects aregiven. Catalogs used in the compilation of the FK5 fundamental catalogare listed.

First giant branch and asymptotic giant branch stars in nearby aggregates
The properties of the brightest red stars in several aggregates in theGalaxy are compared with theoretical models. 22 asymptotic giant branch(AGB) stars are identified, four of which are in the thermally pulsingAGB (TPAGB) phase and four of which are TPAGB carbon stars. Also, fourcases of RGB stars are identified which have accreted substantial massfrom the carbon-rich TPAGB precursor of a current white dwarf companion.There is general agreement between the observed and theoretical slopesof the RGB and early AGB branches, and quantitative differences betweenthe positioning of observed sequences can be understood in terms ofdifferences in metallicity and mass predicted by the theory.

A candidate star for irregular variability
From a comparison between observational and theoretical linear pulsationperiods, a semiregular variable star, VZ Cam, has been found to be quitesimilar to a theoretical stellar model that is less massive and showschaotic oscillation. There is no reason to believe that VZ Cam is amember of the Hyades supercluster.

A. de Sitter's photographic polar photometry revisited; some remarks on photographic photometry with objective gratings
Not Available

E. W. Fick Observatory stellar radial velocity measurements. I - 1976-1984
Stellar radial velocity observations made with the large vacuumhigh-dispersion photoelectric radial velocity spectrometer at FickObservatory are reported. This includes nearly 2000 late-type starsobserved during 585 nights. Gradual modifications to this instrumentover its first eight years of operation have reduced the observationalerror for high-quality dip observations to + or - 0.8 km/s.

IRAS catalogues and atlases - Atlas of low-resolution spectra
Plots of all 5425 spectra in the IRAS catalogue of low-resolutionspectra are presented. The catalogue contains the average spectra ofmost IRAS poiont sources with 12 micron flux densities above 10 Jy.

A systematic search for members of the Hyades Supercluster. V - The red giants
The membership of bright, red giants in the Hyades Supercluster isdetermined by studying their proper motions and their radial velocities.At least 44 of the giants in the Bright Star Catalogue are found to bemembers of the Supercluster, including the known variables R Hya, Pi'Grum TW Hor, NP Pup, R Lyr, VZ Cam, and AD Cet. The nearest member at 29pc is HR 2715, which is also the oldest at 10 to the 9th yr. Thevariables contain a mixture of modes of pulsation and noperiod-luminosity relation is found. The majority of the members are G8to K0 stars and the lone billion-yr old member is all that is expectedfrom the number of A stars of that age in the Supercluster. Theavailable intermediate-band photometry gives luminosities in reasonableagreement with the astrometric values and, together with DDO photometry,shows consistency in the heavy-element abundance of G- and K-typeSupercluster members.

Catalogue of the energy distribution data in spectra of stars in the uniform spectrophotometric system.
Not Available

Carbon monoxide band intensities in M giants
The strength of CO (2.3 micron) bands was measured using the photometercomponent of the Kitt Peak 1.3-m telescope in an attempt to identifyextremely carbon-poor M giants. Magnitudes for about 200 bright M starswere obtained through a J filter, and narrow filters were centered on2.17 and 2.40 microns, respectively. No M giants were found with COindices indicative of extremely low carbon abundances. The correlationof CO index to effective temperature did not extend to the extremelylate and variable M giants. The dependence of CO index upon carbonabundance, 12-C/13-C ratio, surface gravity, effective temperature, andmicroturbulent velocity indices were also investigated. It is found thatthe predicted and observed CO indices are in good agreement for starswith spectroscopically determined carbon abundance.

Vz-Camelopardalis
Not Available

The stellar component of the galaxy as seen by the AFGL infrared sky survey
The noise-limited magnitudes for the Air Force Geophysical Laboratory(AFGL) Infrared Sky Survey have been estimated by direct comparison withground-based observations. Using these limiting magnitudes, 'pruned'versions of the AFGL catalog have been generated. Infrared observationsof all the stellar objects seen at 11, 20, or 27 microns and astatistical sample of the stars seen only at 4 microns are reported.Analysis of the observations leads to estimates of the absolute 4 and 10microns magnitudes and space densities for the two clases of objects.The expected results from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite arereexamined.

NGC 2423 and the red giants of the Hyades supercluster
An extensive set of photometric data for members of the cluster NGC 2423is examined, and the results are compared with those for red giantmembers of the Hyades supercluster. Intermediate band and RI or H-betaobservations for 34 stars of the cluster are listed, and photometricparameters for A and F stars in the cluster are shown. Parameters arealso depicted for red giants in the Hyades supercluster, red giants ofHyades abundance, and M type variables in the Hyades supercluster. Theintrinsic (b-y), M(1) and (R-I),(b-y) relations for normal giants withHyades metal abundance are presented. NGC 2423 is shown to be verysimilar to the Hyades with red giants that match the luminosity andtemperature distribution of those in the Hyades. The red giants of theHyades which are within about 200 pc of the sun are found to haveparallel (U,V) motions with the main sequence stars of the Hyadesnuclear cluster.

Meridian observations made with the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle at Brorfelde (Copenhagen University Observatory) 1981-1982
The 7-inch transit circle instrument with which the present position andmagnitude catalog for 1577 stars with visual magnitudes greater than11.0 was obtained had been equipped with a photoelectric moving slitmicrometer and a minicomputer to control the entire observationalprocess. Positions are reduced relative to the FK4 system for each nightover the whole meridian rather than the usual narrow zones. Thepositions of the FK4 stars used in the least squares solution are alsogiven in the catalog.

Variable stars in the General Catalogue of Trigonometric Parallaxes
Not Available

A different type of maser star
A systematic survey of short-period, semiregular variable stars has beenmade resulting in the detection of six new water masers. Of the 14short-period maser stars now known, nine are classified as SRbvariables. All are very late spectral type SRb's, typically M7, whilethe overwhelming majority of normal SRb stars is M4 to M6. Their 2.2-11micron color indices are among the lowest of any known maser stars. Theyare presumably less dusty as well. Four of the SRb stars and two of theremainder do not obey the correlation between period and velocity spreadof the emission features that is found for the Mira and long-period,semiregular variables. Finally, high galactic latitudes dominate; 13 ofthe 14 are in excess of 13 deg, and nine of these are greater than 25deg. These facts suggest that the short-period semiregular variables -particularly in SRb stars - may be a very different type of maser starthan the Mira and long-period semiregular variables.

First observations with the Effelsberg Radio Telescope at 7-mm wavelength. II - A survey of stars in the vibrationally excited J equals 1-0 SiO lines
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1981AJ.....86..392S&db_key=AST

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Observation and Astrometry data

Constellation:Giraffe
Right ascension:07h31m04.40s
Declination:+82°24'41.0"
Apparent magnitude:4.96
Distance:145.138 parsecs
Proper motion RA:-4.2
Proper motion Dec:-42
B-T magnitude:6.969
V-T magnitude:5.088

Catalogs and designations:
Proper NamesVZ Camelopardalis
HD 1989HD 55966
TYCHO-2 2000TYC 4539-1189-1
USNO-A2.0USNO-A2 1650-01204645
BSC 1991HR 2742
HIPHIP 36547

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