Discovery of a new open cluster as a companion to Czernik 38 cluster and its associated complex tide, using Gaia DR3

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Authors: Nasser Mohamed Ahmed
Cited by: 0

Abstract

We utilize Gaia DR3 data to report the discovery of a new star cluster, Nasser 1, located 32 arcmin from Czernik 38 at coordinates $α= 282.11 \pm 0.05$ and $δ= 4.56 \pm 0.05$. Using a variable membership probability threshold technique with pyUPMASK, we confirm Nasser 1 as a genuine open cluster. It exhibits a distinct King profile and a well-defined CMD with an age of $125.0 \pm 12.30$ Myr, a distance modulus of $12.87 \pm 0.21$ mag, and a color excess of $2.42 \pm 0.09$. Nasser 1 shares consistent physical parameters (age, distance, kinematics, and reddening) with Czernik 38, suggesting they constitute a young primordial binary system in the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm. Both clusters display elongations indicative of differential rotation tides; Nasser 1 is additionally perturbed by the spiral arm's gravitational field. Gaussian mass function analysis suggests the two were formerly a single cluster, violently torn apart by differential rotation.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Stellar planetary and galactic studies Galaxies: Formation Evolution Phenomena Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
14 January 2026
Document type
Preprint