Variable Stars in the Quintuplet stellar cluster with the VVV Survey
Author
Molina, C. Navarro
Borissova, J.
Catelan, M.
Alonso-García, J.
Kerins, E.
Kurtev, R.
Lucas, P. W.
Medina, N.
Minniti, D.
Dékány, I.
Attention
2299/17447
Abstract
The Quintuplet cluster is one of the most massive star clusters in the Milky Way, situated very close to the Galactic center. We present a new search for variable stars in the vicinity of the cluster, using the five-year database of the Vista Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO Public Survey in the near-infrared. A total of 7586 objects were identified in the zone around $2'$ from the cluster center, using 55 $K_S$-band epochs. Thirty-three stars show $K_S$-band variability, 24 of them being previously undiscovered. Most of the variable stars found are slow/semiregular variables, long-period variables of the Mira type, and OH/IR stars. In addition, a good number of our candidates show variations in a rather short timescale. We also propose four Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates, which could be cluster members.