Astronomers have found almost 300 variable stars and figured out where they come from

Using data from NASA's Kepler space telescope, astronomers from the Pedagogical University of Krakow

in Poland and other countries, almost 300 variable stars have been discovered in the open cluster NGC 6791 and its environs. Of these, 119 were newly discovered variables.

In total, the team identified 278 variablesstars, of which 119 were newly discovered variables. Among the entire sample, 17 binaries and 45 pulsators and five unclassified members turned out to be members of NGC 6791. The remaining 28 binaries, 25 pulsators and four unclassified and nine unidentified variables are either not members of the cluster or their membership has not yet been determined.

The charts show that mostThe identified variable stars in NGC 6791 are located on the main sequence. Also, according to the study, the metallicity among the identified variable members of the cluster is not the same. Astronomers suggest that this is due to the presence of several stellar populations inside NGC 6791. However, a uniform spectroscopic study is needed to confirm.

Based on recently collected data, researchersmanaged to derive fundamental parameters for NGC 6791. The results show that the age of the cluster is 8.9 billion years, the metallicity is at the level of 0.26-0.28, and the distance to it is about 13,500 light years.

Read more:

NASA helicopter showed sunset on Mars. It doesn't look like earth.

Physicists have found a way to overcome the limitation on the size of semiconductors

Treasure found that was hidden during the war almost 1,000 years ago

Cover photo: ESO/VVV consortium/D. Minniti