A Rare Cepheid-hosting Open Cluster Triad in Sagittarius

Abstract

Abstract The following Galactic star clusters may constitute a rare Cepheid hosting triad in Sagittarius: M25, NGC 6716, and Collinder 394. The open clusters have comparable ages (τ ≃ 80 Myr) and nearly aligned main-sequences and turnoffs after accounting for differential extinction (A G , E B P − R P ). Gaia DR3 astrometry confirms an association between the three clusters, and importantly, the classical Cepheid U Sgr is a member (P ≃ 6.ͩ75, τ ≃ 80 Myr), while DR3 data indicate that the classical Cepheid BB Sgr (P ≃ 6.ͩ64, τ ≃ 80 Myr) could possibly be an escaped member traversing the background field.