Variable stars in the field of the Galactic globular cluster M71

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Cortés, C. C., Deras, D., Ferro, A. Arellano, Muneer, S., Fierro, I. H. Bustos
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Cortés, C. C.
Deras, D.
Ferro, A. Arellano
Muneer, S.
Fierro, I. H. Bustos
author_facet Cortés, C. C.
Deras, D.
Ferro, A. Arellano
Muneer, S.
Fierro, I. H. Bustos
contents M71 is a nearby, metal-rich globular cluster at low Galactic latitude, where field contamination and spatially variable extinction complicate colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and the identification of cluster member variable stars. Our aims are (i) to construct a homogeneous census of variable stars in M71 by refining their periods and classifications and identifying new candidates, and (ii) to derive a decontaminated, differentially dereddened CMD to constrain its physical properties. We obtained Johnson-Kron-Cousins $VI$ time-series CCD photometry and reduced it using difference image analysis. Cluster membership was established from \textit{Gaia}~DR3 proper motions, and a differential-reddening correction was applied across the field of view. The resulting CMD, cleaned of field stars, was compared with tailored isochrones to estimate age ($12.9^{+0.9}_{-0.8}$ Gyr), metallicity ([Fe/H] =$-0.88^{+0.13}_{-0.15}$), mean reddening ($E(B-V)$ = $0.21 \pm 0.02$), and distance modulus ($(m-M)_{0}$ = $13.01 \pm 0.06$). Variable stars were identified using two complementary approaches: a periodogram-free string-length scan refined with phase dispersion minimisation, and a robust inter-site screening based on median statistics combined with a generalised Lomb-Scargle significance criterion. We identified 21 variable stars not previously reported in the Catalog of Variable Stars in Globular Clusters and provided their periods, amplitudes, classifications, membership status, and light curves. This combined strategy yields a consistent picture of M71, expanding its known variable-star population and confirming parameters typical of metal-rich Galactic disk globular clusters.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_11227
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Variable stars in the field of the Galactic globular cluster M71
Cortés, C. C.
Deras, D.
Ferro, A. Arellano
Muneer, S.
Fierro, I. H. Bustos
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
M71 is a nearby, metal-rich globular cluster at low Galactic latitude, where field contamination and spatially variable extinction complicate colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and the identification of cluster member variable stars. Our aims are (i) to construct a homogeneous census of variable stars in M71 by refining their periods and classifications and identifying new candidates, and (ii) to derive a decontaminated, differentially dereddened CMD to constrain its physical properties. We obtained Johnson-Kron-Cousins $VI$ time-series CCD photometry and reduced it using difference image analysis. Cluster membership was established from \textit{Gaia}~DR3 proper motions, and a differential-reddening correction was applied across the field of view. The resulting CMD, cleaned of field stars, was compared with tailored isochrones to estimate age ($12.9^{+0.9}_{-0.8}$ Gyr), metallicity ([Fe/H] =$-0.88^{+0.13}_{-0.15}$), mean reddening ($E(B-V)$ = $0.21 \pm 0.02$), and distance modulus ($(m-M)_{0}$ = $13.01 \pm 0.06$). Variable stars were identified using two complementary approaches: a periodogram-free string-length scan refined with phase dispersion minimisation, and a robust inter-site screening based on median statistics combined with a generalised Lomb-Scargle significance criterion. We identified 21 variable stars not previously reported in the Catalog of Variable Stars in Globular Clusters and provided their periods, amplitudes, classifications, membership status, and light curves. This combined strategy yields a consistent picture of M71, expanding its known variable-star population and confirming parameters typical of metal-rich Galactic disk globular clusters.
title Variable stars in the field of the Galactic globular cluster M71
topic Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.11227