The outer-halo globular cluster NGC 6229 – IV. Variable stars |
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| Authors: | J Borissova M Catelan † T Valchev ‡ |
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| Institution: | Institute of Astronomy, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 72 Tsarigradsko chaussèe, BG–1784 Sofia, Bulgaria; University of Virginia, Department of Astronomy, PO Box 3818, Charlottesville, VA 22903-0818, USA |
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| Abstract: | We present time-series B , V photometry of NGC 6229, obtained with the purpose of providing the first extensive CCD variability study of this cluster. As a result, we were able to obtain periods for all NGC 6229 variables, with the exception of five stars from the candidate list of Borissova et al. located very close to the cluster centre. Two stars suspected to be variables by Carney, Fullton and Trammell are first-overtone RR Lyrae (RRc) stars, whereas seven of the 12 candidates of Borissova et al. are confirmed variables – three of them being fundamental RR Lyrae (RRab) pulsators, two first-overtone pulsators, one an eclipsing binary (most likely an Algol system) and one a bright star whose variability status could not be satisfactorily determined. A new image subtraction method (ISM) suggested by Alard has been employed which, together with the Welch–Stetson technique, has allowed us to discover twelve new RR Lyrae variables in the cluster, for which ephemerides are provided. Ten of these are RRabs, whereas the other two are RRcs. As originally suggested by Mayer, NGC 6229 is clearly an Oosterhoff type I globular cluster. We also confirm that V8 is a Population II Cepheid of the W Virginis type, and suspect that this is the case for V22 as well. The physical properties of the NGC 6229 RR Lyrae population are contrasted with those of M3 (NGC 5272) using several different methods, including a standard period-shift analysis. Possible differences between these two clusters are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | stars: fundamental parameters stars: horizontal branch stars: Population II stars: variables: other globular clusters: individual: NGC 6229 |
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