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arXiv · 2503.19287

The physical association of planetary nebula NGC 2818 with open cluster NGC 2818A

Vasiliki Fragkou·Roberto Vázquez·Quentin A. Parker·Denise R. Gonçalves·Luis Lomelí-Núñez
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Abstract

Planetary nebulae (PNe) that are physical members of open star clusters (OCs) are valuable for stellar evolution studies. They are extremely rare, with only three such instances confirmed in our Galaxy. Here, we confirm the physical association of PN NGC 2818 with OC NGC 2818A, an association long debated in the literature, adding a fourth object to the sample of rare OC-PN pairs. The physical properties of the PN can then be linked to those of its progenitor star. Using GHOST/Gemini high-resolution nebular spectra, we measured the PN systemic radial velocity to compare it with that of the putative host cluster, determined from Gaia. We estimated the physical parameters of both the OC and the PN using our data, together with estimates from previous studies and theoretical cluster isochrones and evolutionary tracks to show they are compatible. The precise, systemic radial velocity of the PN that was determined, is consistent among the errors with that of the OC and its 1 km/s associated velocity dispersion, a primary requirement for cluster membership. We have determined other physical parameters of the PN and the OC, such as age and distance, which also match within the errors. These results present compelling evidence for the physical association of the PN and the OC. The PN age was found to be 11 kyr and the effective temperature of its central star was estimated as 130 kK. The initial and final masses of the progenitor star were determined to be 2.33$\pm$0.10 Msol and 0.58$\pm$0.10 Msol respectively. We plotted the resulting data point on the latest initial-to-final-mass relation. This new data point agrees with the previously published trends and further delineates the 'kink' found at relatively low initial masses. All four OC-PN associations, identified thus far, share a number of common properties. These rare cases merit detailed OC-PN studies and work to further extend the sample.

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Vasiliki Fragkou, Roberto Vázquez, Quentin A. Parker, Denise R. Gonçalves, Luis Lomelí-Núñez. 2025-03-25. The physical association of planetary nebula NGC 2818 with open cluster NGC 2818A. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%2F202453031

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