To Grow Old and Peculiar: A Survey of Anomalous Variable Stars in M80 and Age Determination using K2 and Gaia

TL;DR

This study uses K2 and Gaia data to analyze variable stars in the globular cluster M80, discovering new variables, classifying peculiar RRc stars, and estimating the cluster's age and metallicity despite inherent uncertainties.

Contribution

It provides a detailed variable star catalog for M80, identifies new variables including a spotted horizontal branch star, and discusses age determination challenges using isochrone fitting.

Findings

Discovered two new variable stars in M80.

Identified multiple modes and peculiarities in RRc stars.

Confirmed M80 as an old, metal-poor cluster with uncertainties in age estimation.

Abstract

The globular cluster Messier 80 was monitored by the Kepler space telescope for 80 days during the K2 mission. Continuous, high-precision photometry of such an old, compact cluster allows us to study its variable star population in unprecedented detail. We extract light curves for 27 variable stars using differential-image photometry. A search for new variables in the images led to the discovery of two new variable stars: an RR Lyrae and a variable red giant star, respectively. Analysis of the RR Lyrae population reveals multiple RRc stars with additional modes and/or peculiar modulation cycles. We newly classify star V28 as a spotted extreme horizontal branch variable. Despite their faintness, we clearly detect the three SX Phe stars but we did not find new pulsation modes beyond the known ones in them. Spectra taken with the VLT and Magellan Clay telescopes, as well as absolute color-magnitude diagrams of the cluster based on Gaia and Pan-STARRS observations confirm the classification of the peculiar modulated variables as bona-fide RRc stars. We propose that they highlight a subgroup of overtone stars that may have been overlooked before. We fit MESA isochrones to the CMDs to estimate the age and metallicity of the cluster. We confirm that M80 is old and metal-poor, but show that isochrone fitting to old populations comes with numerous uncertainties.