Stellar population astrophysics (SPA) with the TNG. Revisiting the metallicity of Praesepe (M 44)

Abstract

Context. Open clusters exquisitely track the Galactic disc chemical properties and its time evolution; a substantial number of studies and large spectroscopic surveys focus mostly on the chemical content of relatively old clusters (age ≳ 1 Gyr). Interestingly, the less studied young counterpart populating the solar surrounding has been found to be solar (at most), with a notable surprising lack of young metal-rich objects. While there is wide consensus about the moderately above-solar composition of the Hyades cluster, the metallicity of Praesepe is still controversial. Recent studies suggest that these two clusters share identical chemical composition and age, but this conclusion is disputed. <BR /> Aims: With the aim of reassessing the metallicity of Praesepe, and its difference (if any) with the Hyades cluster, we present in this paper a spectroscopic investigation of ten solar-type dwarf members. <BR /> Methods: We exploited GIARPS at the TNG to acquire high-resolution, high-quality optical and near-IR spectra and derived stellar parameters, metallicity ([Fe/H]), light elements, α- and iron-peak elements, by using a strictly differential (line-by-line) approach. We also analysed in the very same way the solar spectrum and the Hyades solar analogue HD 28099. <BR /> Results: Our findings suggest that Praesepe is more metal-rich than the Hyades, at the level of Δ[Fe/H] = +0.05 ± 0.01 dex, with a mean value of [Fe/H] = +0.21 ± 0.01 dex. All the other elements scale with iron, as expected. This result seems to reject the hypothesis of a common origin for these two open clusters. Most importantly, Praesepe is currently the most metal-rich, young open cluster living in the solar neighbourhood. <P />Full Table 2 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to <A href="http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/">http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr</A> (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/633/A38">http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/633/A38</A> <P />Based on observations made with the Italian Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) operated on the island of La Palma by the Fundación Galileo Galilei of the INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica) at the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias. This study is part of the Large Program titled SPA - Stellar Population Astrophysics: the detailed, age-resolved chemistry of the Milky Way disk (PI: L. Origlia), granted observing time with HARPS-N and GIANO-B echelle spectrographs at the TNG.