Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 1998
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998aj....116..261k&link_type=abstract
The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 1, pp. 261-265.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
50
Galaxy: Open Clusters And Associations: Individual: Ngc Number: Ngc 2264, Stars: Pre-Main-Sequence, Stars: Rotation, Stars: Spots
Scientific paper
We present results from a second season of monitoring fields in the young cluster NGC 2264 at Van Vleck Observatory. In Paper I of this series, we reported the discovery of nine periodic variables-all interpreted as spotted pre-main-sequence stars. That has now been increased to 31, one of which is quite unusual. The preliminary result reported in Paper I-that the frequency distribution of rotation periods in NGC 2264 is significantly different from what is seen in the Orion Nebula cluster (ONC)-is confirmed. In particular, the distribution peaks at a period of about 4 days, precisely where there is a gap in the ONC distribution. There is also a good number of very rapidly rotating stars and a long tail of slow rotators. The distribution can be understood, at least qualitatively, in terms of a disk-locking model of rotational evolution. In this interpretation, the majority of stars in NGC 2264 must have unlocked from their disks by an age of about 1 million years, and spun up roughly in accordance with conservation of angular momentum. A minority (about 20%) are conserving angular velocity instead (i.e., locked to their disks). The unusual star, 15D, has an apparent period of about 48 days and a light curve indicative of an eclipse by a nonstellar object. Its amplitude exceeds 3 mag. Our fragmentary data suggest a complex structure for the eclipsing body. It could be a feature (protoplanet?) in this star's circumstellar disk and, as such, deserves observational attention.
Herbst William
Kearns Kristin E.
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