The Sample of Red Supergiants in 12 Low-mass Galaxies of the Local Group

Abstract

Abstract This work establishes the most complete sample of red supergiants (RSGs) in 12 low-mass galaxies (WLM, IC 10, NGC 147, NGC 185, IC 1613, Leo A, Sextans B, Sextans A, NGC 6822, Pegasus Dwarf, SMC, and LMC) of the Local Group, which forms a solid basis to study the properties of RSGs as well as the star formation rate and initial mass function of the galaxies. After removing the foreground dwarf stars by their obvious branch in the near-infrared color–color diagram ( J − H 0 / H − K 0 ) with the UKIRT/WFCAM and 2MASS photometry as well as the Gaia/EDR3 measurements of proper motion and parallax, RSGs are identified from their location in the color–magnitude diagram J − K 0 / K 0 of the member stars of the specific galaxy. A total of 2190 RSGs are found in 10 dwarf galaxies, and additionally, 4823 and 2138 RSGs are found in LMC and SMC, respectively. The locations of the tip of the red giant branch in the J − K 0 / K 0 diagram are determined to serve as an indicator of the metallicity and distance modulus of the galaxies.