NGC 2112

A developing star cluster called NGC 2112 can be found in the constellation of Orion. About 70 stars make up the cluster, many of which are bright and blue in hue. It is thought to be about 100 million years ancient and was first found by William Herschel in 1784. Gaia measurements were used in a recent research by Vázquez et al (2020) to establish the cluster’s distance and correct motion. According to their research, NGC 2112 is roughly 730 parsecs from Earth and moves properly at a rate of 1.16 mas/yr in right ascension and 2.98 mas/yr in inclination.

In a different investigation, Kounkel et al. (2020) examined the chemical makeup and motion of NGC 2112 using information from the Gaia spacecraft and the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE). They discovered proof of numerous generations of star creation within the cluster as well as a radial metallicity gradient.

Over the years, NGC 2112 has been the focus of a great deal of study; Kharchenko et al. (2013) performed a comprehensive examination of the cluster using information from the Gaia spacecraft and other sources. According to their research, the cluster is about 370 million years old and has 500 member stars with signs of widespread segregation. Additionally, they discovered that the cluster is situated about 2.5 kiloparsecs from Earth. In addition, Sarro et al. (2014) examined the cluster’s main sequence and found its blue straggler stars using photometric and spectroscopic data.

 

I used the network of telescopes known as Skynet to gather NGC 2112 pictures to begin my study. Four distinct filters—B, V, R, and I—and exposure times varying from 25 to 115 seconds were used to capture images of the star cluster. The colour composite picture of the cluster is shown below. Afterglow was used to process the photos and create it.

 

                   Reddened                                                                                            De-reddened                                                              

 

I was able to determine some of the star cluster’s characteristics by examining the colour-magnitude maps using Cluster Pro Plus. With a 100% degree of error, 990 parsecs (3,222 light-years) were calculated as the distance to NGC 2112. It was discovered that the cluster’s log(age) was 9.29, indicating a middle age of roughly 300 million years. According to estimates, it has a metallicity of 0.18, which is similar to the sun metallicity of 0.02. The E(V-B) number for NGC 2112 was finally determined to be 0.6.

Through my study, I discovered the middle-aged star cluster NGC 2112. Its log(age) is 9.29, metallicity is 0.18, and it is located about 3,200 light-years away. My results concur with earlier study, despite the fact that the age was calculated differently. The stars in NGC 2112 are shown along with their characteristics in a colour composite picture and an HR map.

 

 

Overall, research on NGC 2112 has greatly advanced our knowledge of the creation and development of star groups. They have provided crucial information about the age, distance, makeup, and structure of the cluster that can be used to better comprehend the background of stellar development and the creation of our galaxy. The existence of blue remnants in the cluster, as discovered by Sarro et al. (2014), is another intriguing characteristic that could have effects on how star clusters form and develop. The most current research by Kounkel et al. (2020) on the chemical makeup of the cluster and the numerous generations of star formation offers fresh understandings of the procedures entailed in the formation of open clusters.

 

In conclusion, NGC 2112 is an intriguing juvenile star cluster that can be found in the constellation of Orion. Researching it has improved our knowledge of how star clusters form and develop. The cluster’s age, distance, makeup, and structure, as well as its intriguing characteristics like blue stragglers and its closeness to the Barnard Loop, have all been discovered through different studies and observations. There is no question that future studies on NGC 2112 and other star groups will continue to reveal more about the origins of the stars and galaxies we see today as well as the secrets of the cosmos.

 

References:

 

Kharchenko, N. V., Piskunov, A. E., Schilbach, E., Röser, S., & Scholz, R.-D. (2013). Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 558, A53. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201322302

 

Vázquez, R., Brott, I., García, M., Barbá, R., & Bestenlehner, J. (2020). A Gaia survey of the HR diagram of the Orion OB association. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 640, A117. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202038001