A BAYESIAN ANALYSIS OF THE AGES OF FOUR OPEN CLUSTERS
File(s)
Published version
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this paper we apply a Bayesian technique to determine the best fit of stellar evolution models
to find the main sequence turn off age and other cluster parameters of four intermediate-age open
clusters: NGC 2360, NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960. Our algorithm utilizes a Markov chain
Monte Carlo technique to fit these various parameters, objectively finding the best fit isochrone for
each cluster. The result is a high precision isochrone fit. We compare these results with the those of
traditional “by eye” isochrone fitting methods. By applying this Bayesian technique to NGC 2360,
NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960 we determine the ages of these clusters to be 1.35 ± 0.05,
1.02 ± 0.02, 1.64 ± 0.04, and 0.860 ± 0.04 Gyr, respectively. The results of this paper continue our
effort to determine cluster ages to higher precision than that offered by these traditional methods of
isochrone fitting.
to find the main sequence turn off age and other cluster parameters of four intermediate-age open
clusters: NGC 2360, NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960. Our algorithm utilizes a Markov chain
Monte Carlo technique to fit these various parameters, objectively finding the best fit isochrone for
each cluster. The result is a high precision isochrone fit. We compare these results with the those of
traditional “by eye” isochrone fitting methods. By applying this Bayesian technique to NGC 2360,
NGC 2477, NGC 2660, and NGC 3960 we determine the ages of these clusters to be 1.35 ± 0.05,
1.02 ± 0.02, 1.64 ± 0.04, and 0.860 ± 0.04 Gyr, respectively. The results of this paper continue our
effort to determine cluster ages to higher precision than that offered by these traditional methods of
isochrone fitting.
Date Issued
2016-09-06
Date Acceptance
2016-06-20
Citation
Astrophysical Journal, 2016, 828
ISSN
1538-4357
Publisher
American Astronomical Society
Journal / Book Title
Astrophysical Journal
Volume
828
Copyright Statement
© 2016. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Commission of the European Communities
European Commission
Grant Number
WM110023
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG-321865
H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015-691164
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
open clusters and associations: general
open clusters and associations: individual
(NGC 2360, NGC 2477, NGC 2660, NGC 3960)
OLD OPEN CLUSTERS
GALACTIC CHEMICAL EVOLUTION
COLOR-MAGNITUDE DIAGRAMS
WHITE-DWARF AGE
STELLAR EVOLUTION
RED GIANTS
CCD PHOTOMETRY
KEY TRACERS
NGC 2360
PARAMETERS
0201 Astronomical And Space Sciences
0305 Organic Chemistry
0306 Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural)
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
79