Comprehensive Gaia DR3-Based Astrometric, Photometric, and Kinematic Studies of the Binary Open Cluster $h$ and $χ$ Persei

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Hauptverfasser: Taşdemir, Seval, Elsanhoury, Waleed, Çınar, Deniz Cennet, Haroon, Aly, Bilir, Selçuk
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Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Taşdemir, Seval
Elsanhoury, Waleed
Çınar, Deniz Cennet
Haroon, Aly
Bilir, Selçuk
author_facet Taşdemir, Seval
Elsanhoury, Waleed
Çınar, Deniz Cennet
Haroon, Aly
Bilir, Selçuk
contents In the Gaia era, a comprehensive analysis of the binary open clusters NGC 869 (h Persei) and NGC 884 (chi Persei) system has been conducted to investigate its structural, astrophysical, kinematic, and Galactic orbital properties, along with its dynamical evolution. By applying the UPMASK algorithm to Gaia astrometric data for the estimation of cluster membership probabilities, it has been determined that 808 stars in NGC 869 and 707 stars in NGC 884 exhibit the highest statistical likelihood of being cluster members. The fundamental astrophysical parameters of the clusters were inferred within a Bayesian framework using Gaia data and PARSEC stellar evolutionary isochrones, through the application of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. The estimated parameters are: colour excess E(B-V) = 0.516 +0.17/-0.24 mag and 0.516 +0.22/-0.33 mag, distances 2376 +301/-278 and 2273 +230/-290 pc, ages log(t/yr) = 7.31 +0.17/-0.32 and log(t/yr) = 7.30 +0.13/-0.29, and metallicities [Fe/H] = -0.24 +/- 0.12 and [Fe/H] = -0.25 +/- 0.12 dex for NGC 869 and NGC 884, respectively. Since spectroscopic observations are not available for the clusters, SED analysis was employed for the member stars, yielding results consistent with those obtained using the MCMC method. Kinematic and Galactic orbital analyses suggest that the open clusters originated in nearby regions of the Galaxy. This interpretation is supported by their similar space velocities and Galactic orbital parameters. Furthermore, orbital integration over 1 Gyr indicates a potential interaction between the clusters within the next 11 Myr. This study provides strong evidence of a common origin and a possible future dynamical interaction, contributing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of binary open clusters in the Milky Way.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_16252
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Comprehensive Gaia DR3-Based Astrometric, Photometric, and Kinematic Studies of the Binary Open Cluster $h$ and $χ$ Persei
Taşdemir, Seval
Elsanhoury, Waleed
Çınar, Deniz Cennet
Haroon, Aly
Bilir, Selçuk
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
In the Gaia era, a comprehensive analysis of the binary open clusters NGC 869 (h Persei) and NGC 884 (chi Persei) system has been conducted to investigate its structural, astrophysical, kinematic, and Galactic orbital properties, along with its dynamical evolution. By applying the UPMASK algorithm to Gaia astrometric data for the estimation of cluster membership probabilities, it has been determined that 808 stars in NGC 869 and 707 stars in NGC 884 exhibit the highest statistical likelihood of being cluster members. The fundamental astrophysical parameters of the clusters were inferred within a Bayesian framework using Gaia data and PARSEC stellar evolutionary isochrones, through the application of the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. The estimated parameters are: colour excess E(B-V) = 0.516 +0.17/-0.24 mag and 0.516 +0.22/-0.33 mag, distances 2376 +301/-278 and 2273 +230/-290 pc, ages log(t/yr) = 7.31 +0.17/-0.32 and log(t/yr) = 7.30 +0.13/-0.29, and metallicities [Fe/H] = -0.24 +/- 0.12 and [Fe/H] = -0.25 +/- 0.12 dex for NGC 869 and NGC 884, respectively. Since spectroscopic observations are not available for the clusters, SED analysis was employed for the member stars, yielding results consistent with those obtained using the MCMC method. Kinematic and Galactic orbital analyses suggest that the open clusters originated in nearby regions of the Galaxy. This interpretation is supported by their similar space velocities and Galactic orbital parameters. Furthermore, orbital integration over 1 Gyr indicates a potential interaction between the clusters within the next 11 Myr. This study provides strong evidence of a common origin and a possible future dynamical interaction, contributing valuable insights into the formation and evolution of binary open clusters in the Milky Way.
title Comprehensive Gaia DR3-Based Astrometric, Photometric, and Kinematic Studies of the Binary Open Cluster $h$ and $χ$ Persei
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.16252