The Gaia-ESO Survey: The inner disc, intermediate-age open cluster Pismis 18
Pith reviewed 2026-05-25 16:56 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Six UVES spectra establish Pismis 18 as a 700-Myr-old inner-disc cluster with [Fe/H] = +0.23.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
Using Gaia-ESO Survey data, Pismis 18 has age 700+40−50 Myr, E(B−V) = 0.562+0.012−0.026 mag, de-reddened distance modulus DM0 = 11.96+0.10−0.24 mag, median [Fe/H] = +0.23 ± 0.05 dex, [α/Fe] = 0.07 ± 0.13, and slight s- and r-process enhancement, confirming its inner-disc location at about 7 kpc from the Galactic centre.
What carries the argument
Radial-velocity membership study of 142 stars on the upper main sequence and red clump, combined with Gaia DR2 proper motions to select high-confidence members, followed by detailed abundance analysis of six UVES high-resolution spectra.
Load-bearing premise
The six stars observed at high resolution are chemically representative of the entire cluster and radial-velocity plus proper-motion cuts cleanly exclude field-star contamination.
What would settle it
Abundance measurements of additional proper-motion and radial-velocity selected members that differ by more than 0.1 dex in [Fe/H] or [α/Fe] from the reported medians would show the six-star sample is not representative.
Figures
read the original abstract
Pismis 18 is a moderately populated, intermediate-age open cluster located within the solar circle at a Galactocentric distance of about 7 kpc. Few open clusters have been studied in detail in the inner disc region before the Gaia-ESO Survey. New data from the Gaia-ESO Survey allowed us to conduct an extended radial velocity membership study as well as spectroscopic metallicity and detailed chemical abundance measurements for this cluster. Gaia-ESO Survey data for 142 potential members, lying on the upper MS and on the red clump, yielded radial velocity measurements, which, together with proper motion measurements from the Gaia DR2, were used to determine the systemic velocity of the cluster and membership of individual stars. Photometry from Gaia DR2 was used to re-determine cluster parameters based on high confidence member stars only. Cluster abundance measurements of six radial-velocity member stars with UVES high-resolution spectroscopy are presented for 23 elements. According to the new estimates, based on high confidence members, Pismis 18 has an age of $700^{+40}_{-50}$ Myr, interstellar reddening of E(B-V) = $0.562^{+0.012}_{-0.026}$ mag and a de-reddened distance modulus of $DM_0 = 11.96^{+0.10}_{-0.24}$ mag. The median metallicity of the cluster (using the six UVES stars) is [Fe/H] = $+0.23 \pm 0.05$ dex, with [$\alpha$/Fe]= $0.07 \pm 0.13$ and a slight enhancement of s- and r- neutron-capture elements. With the present work, we fully characterized the open cluster Pismis 18, confirming its present location in the inner disc. We estimated a younger age than the previous literature values and gave, for the first time, its metallicity and its detailed abundances. Its [$\alpha$/Fe] and [s-process/Fe], both slightly super-solar, are in agreement with other inner-disc open clusters observed by the Gaia-ESO survey. [abridged]
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript presents a characterization of the intermediate-age open cluster Pismis 18 based on Gaia-ESO Survey data. It performs a radial velocity membership study on 142 potential members combined with Gaia DR2 proper motions to identify high-confidence members, uses Gaia DR2 photometry to determine the cluster's age, reddening, and distance modulus via isochrone fitting, and reports detailed chemical abundances for 23 elements from six UVES spectra of radial-velocity members, yielding a median [Fe/H] = +0.23 ± 0.05 dex and confirming the cluster's location in the inner Galactic disc.
Significance. This work contributes to the growing sample of inner-disc open clusters with precise abundances from the Gaia-ESO Survey. The derived parameters, including a younger age than previous estimates and slightly super-solar [α/Fe] and s-process elements, align with expectations for the inner disc and provide a useful comparison point for Galactic chemical evolution models. The integration of spectroscopic radial velocities with astrometric proper motions for membership is a methodological strength.
major comments (1)
- [Membership determination] The description of the membership analysis does not include the measured velocity dispersion of the cluster, the specific outlier rejection criteria, or an estimate of the field star contamination fraction among the 142 candidates. Since the chemical abundances and cluster parameters rely on the selected high-confidence members, these details are necessary to assess the robustness of the results.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the positive assessment of our work and the recommendation of minor revision. We address the single major comment below.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: [Membership determination] The description of the membership analysis does not include the measured velocity dispersion of the cluster, the specific outlier rejection criteria, or an estimate of the field star contamination fraction among the 142 candidates. Since the chemical abundances and cluster parameters rely on the selected high-confidence members, these details are necessary to assess the robustness of the results.
Authors: We agree that these details improve the clarity and robustness assessment of the membership selection. In the revised manuscript we will add the measured radial-velocity dispersion of the high-confidence members, explicitly state the outlier rejection thresholds applied to the 142 candidates (including any sigma-clipping or combined RV+PM criteria), and provide a quantitative estimate of the field-star contamination fraction remaining after the joint selection. These additions will be placed in the membership section and will directly support the reliability of the six UVES stars used for abundances and the high-confidence sample used for the isochrone fit. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No significant circularity; parameters derived directly from survey data
full rationale
The paper reports direct observational measurements: radial velocities from Gaia-ESO spectra for 142 candidates, combined with Gaia DR2 proper motions for membership, photometry for age/reddening/distance, and median abundances from six UVES spectra. No equations, fitted parameters renamed as predictions, or self-citation chains reduce any claim to its own inputs by construction. The derivation chain consists of standard data reduction and median statistics on independent measurements, with no self-definitional loops or ansatz smuggling. This is a typical observational cluster characterization paper whose central results are falsifiable against external data.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (2)
- domain assumption The six UVES stars are chemically representative of the cluster and unaffected by atomic diffusion or other internal processes that could alter surface abundances.
- domain assumption Gaia DR2 proper motions and Gaia-ESO radial velocities cleanly separate cluster members from field stars at this location.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Asplund, M., Grevesse, N., Sauval, A. J., & Scott, P. 2009, ARA&A, 47, 481 Bertelli Motta, C., Salaris, M., Pasquali, A., & Grebel, E. K. 2017, MNRAS, 466, 2161
work page 2009
- [2]
-
[3]
Bragaglia, A. 2018, in IAU Symposium, V ol. 330, Astrometry and Astrophysics in the Gaia Sky, ed. A. Recio-Blanco, P. de Laverny, A. G. A. Brown, & T. Prusti, 119–126
work page 2018
- [4]
-
[5]
Cantat-Gaudin, T., Donati, P., Vallenari, A., et al. 2016, A&A, 588, A120
work page 2016
-
[6]
Cantat-Gaudin, T., Vallenari, A., Zaggia, S., et al. 2014, A&A, 569, A17
work page 2014
-
[7]
Carlberg, J. K. 2014, AJ, 147, 138
work page 2014
-
[8]
2007, in Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, V ol
Casagrande, L. 2007, in Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series, V ol. 374, From Stars to Galaxies: Building the Pieces to Build Up the Uni- verse, ed. A. Vallenari, R. Tantalo, L. Portinari, & A. Moretti, 71
work page 2007
-
[9]
Casamiquela, L., Carrera, R., Balaguer-Núñez, L., et al. 2018, A&A, 610, A66
work page 2018
-
[10]
Casamiquela, L., Carrera, R., Blanco-Cuaresma, S., et al. 2017, MNRAS, 470, 4363
work page 2017
-
[11]
2005, in American Institute of Physics Conference Series, V ol
Chiappini, C. 2005, in American Institute of Physics Conference Series, V ol. 797, Interacting Binaries: Accretion, Evolution, and Outcomes, ed. L. Bur- deri, L. A. Antonelli, F. D’Antona, T. di Salvo, G. L. Israel, L. Piersanti, A. Tornambè, & O. Straniero, 476–481
work page 2005
- [12]
-
[13]
Cyburt, R. H. 2004, Phys. Rev. D, 70, 023505 Degl’Innocenti, S., Prada Moroni, P. G., Marconi, M., & Ruoppo, A. 2008, Ap&SS, 316, 25 Dell’Omodarme, M., Valle, G., Degl’Innocenti, S., & Prada Moroni, P. G. 2012, A&A, 540, A26
work page 2004
-
[14]
Dias, W. S., Alessi, B. S., Moitinho, A., & Lépine, J. R. D. 2002, A&A, 389, 871
work page 2002
-
[15]
Donati, P., Bragaglia, A., Carretta, E., et al. 2015, MNRAS, 453, 4185
work page 2015
-
[16]
2014, A&A, 561, A94 D’Orazi, V ., Magrini, L., Randich, S., et al
Donati, P., Cantat Gaudin, T., Bragaglia, A., et al. 2014, A&A, 561, A94 D’Orazi, V ., Magrini, L., Randich, S., et al. 2009, ApJ, 693, L31
work page 2014
-
[17]
E., Gonzalez-Solares, E., Greimel, R., et al
Drew, J. E., Gonzalez-Solares, E., Greimel, R., et al. 2014, MNRAS, 440, 2036
work page 2014
- [18]
-
[19]
Friel, E. D. 1995, ARA&A, 33, 381
work page 1995
-
[20]
D., Donati, P., Bragaglia, A., et al
Friel, E. D., Donati, P., Bragaglia, A., et al. 2014, A&A, 563, A117 Gaia Collaboration, Babusiaux, C., van Leeuwen, F., et al. 2018a, A&A, 616, A10 Gaia Collaboration, Brown, A. G. A., Vallenari, A., et al. 2018b, A&A, 616, A1 Gaia Collaboration, Brown, A. G. A., Vallenari, A., et al. 2016, A&A, 595, A2 Gaia Collaboration, Helmi, A., van Leeuwen, F., et ...
work page 2014
-
[21]
Gilmore, G., Randich, S., Asplund, M., et al. 2012, The Messenger, 147, 25
work page 2012
-
[22]
Grevesse, N., Asplund, M., & Sauval, A. J. 2007, Space Sci. Rev., 130, 105
work page 2007
- [23]
-
[24]
Jackson, R. J., Jeffries, R. D., Lewis, J., et al. 2015, A&A, 580, A75 Article number, page 13 of 14 A&A proofs: manuscript no. pismis18_arxiv
work page 2015
-
[25]
Jacobson, H. R., Friel, E. D., Jílková, L., et al. 2016, A&A, 591, A37 Jofré, P., Heiter, U., Worley, C. C., et al. 2017, A&A, 601, A38
work page 2016
-
[26]
Kharchenko, N. V ., Piskunov, A. E., Schilbach, E., Röser, S., & Scholz, R.-D. 2013, A&A, 558, A53
work page 2013
- [27]
-
[28]
Kruijssen, J. M. D., Pelupessy, F. I., Lamers, H. J. G. L. M., Portegies Zwart, S. F., & Icke, V . 2011, MNRAS, 414, 1339
work page 2011
-
[29]
Kubryk, M., Prantzos, N., & Athanassoula, E. 2013, MNRAS, 436, 1479
work page 2013
-
[30]
Lindegren, L., Hernández, J., Bombrun, A., et al. 2018, A&A, 616, A2
work page 2018
-
[31]
Luri, X., Brown, A. G. A., Sarro, L. M., et al. 2018, A&A, 616, A9
work page 2018
- [32]
-
[33]
Magrini, L., Randich, S., Kordopatis, G., et al. 2017, A&A, 603, A2
work page 2017
-
[34]
Magrini, L., Sestito, P., Randich, S., & Galli, D. 2009, A&A, 494, 95
work page 2009
-
[35]
Magrini, L., Spina, L., Randich, S., et al. 2018, A&A, 617, A106
work page 2018
- [36]
-
[37]
Malkin, Z. 2013, in IAU Symposium, V ol. 289, Advancing the Physics of Cosmic Distances, ed. R. de Grijs, 406–409
work page 2013
-
[38]
Gaia Data Release 2. Cross-match with external catalogues - Algorithms and results
Marrese, P. M., Marinoni, S., Fabrizio, M., & Altavilla, G. 2018, ArXiv e-prints [arXiv:1808.09151]
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2018
-
[39]
Martig, M., Rix, H.-W., Silva Aguirre, V ., et al. 2015, MNRAS, 451, 2230
work page 2015
- [40]
- [41]
-
[42]
Morales, E. F. E., Wyrowski, F., Schuller, F., & Menten, K. M. 2013, A&A, 560, A76
work page 2013
- [43]
-
[44]
2016, A&A, 585, A150 Önehag, A., Gustafsson, B., & Korn, A
Netopil, M., Paunzen, E., Heiter, U., & Soubiran, C. 2016, A&A, 585, A150 Önehag, A., Gustafsson, B., & Korn, A. 2014, A&A, 562, A102
work page 2016
- [45]
- [46]
- [47]
-
[48]
Pasquini, L., Avila, G., Blecha, A., et al. 2002, The Messenger, 110, 1
work page 2002
-
[49]
Piatti, A. E., Clariá, J. J., Bica, E., Geisler, D., & Minniti, D. 1998, AJ, 116, 801 Portegies Zwart, S. F., Hut, P., Makino, J., & McMillan, S. L. W. 1998, A&A, 337, 363
work page 1998
-
[50]
Randich, S., Gilmore, G., & Gaia-ESO Consortium. 2013, The Messenger, 154, 47
work page 2013
-
[51]
Randich, S., Sestito, P., Primas, F., Pallavicini, R., & Pasquini, L. 2006, A&A, 450, 557
work page 2006
-
[52]
Randich, S., Tognelli, E., Jackson, R., et al. 2018, A&A, 612, A99
work page 2018
-
[53]
G., Casertano, S., Yuan, W., et al
Riess, A. G., Casertano, S., Yuan, W., et al. 2018, ApJ, 861, 126
work page 2018
-
[54]
C., Reylé, C., Derrière, S., & Picaud, S
Robin, A. C., Reylé, C., Derrière, S., & Picaud, S. 2003, A&A, 409, 523
work page 2003
-
[55]
G., Morbidelli, L., Franciosini, E., et al
Sacco, G. G., Morbidelli, L., Franciosini, E., et al. 2014, A&A, 565, A113
work page 2014
-
[56]
Sestito, P., Bragaglia, A., Randich, S., et al. 2008, A&A, 488, 943
work page 2008
-
[57]
Shetrone, M. D. & Sandquist, E. L. 2000, AJ, 120, 1913
work page 2000
-
[58]
Smiljanic, R., Korn, A. J., Bergemann, M., et al. 2014, A&A, 570, A122
work page 2014
-
[59]
Smiljanic, R., Romano, D., Bragaglia, A., et al. 2016, A&A, 589, A115
work page 2016
- [60]
-
[61]
Stassun, K. G. & Torres, G. 2018, ApJ, 862, 61
work page 2018
-
[62]
Tadross, A. L. 2008, New A, 13, 370
work page 2008
-
[63]
2017, A&A, 601, A56 Tautvaišiene, G., Edvardsson, B., Tuominen, I., & Ilyin, I
Tang, B., Geisler, D., Friel, E., et al. 2017, A&A, 601, A56 Tautvaišiene, G., Edvardsson, B., Tuominen, I., & Ilyin, I. 2000, A&A, 360, 499
work page 2017
-
[64]
Tognelli, E., Prada Moroni, P. G., & Degl’Innocenti, S. 2011, A&A, 533, A109
work page 2011
-
[65]
Tognelli, E., Prada Moroni, P. G., & Degl’Innocenti, S. 2018, MNRAS, 476, 27
work page 2018
-
[66]
Valle, G., Dell’Omodarme, M., Prada Moroni, P. G., & Degl’Innocenti, S. 2017, A&A, 600, A41
work page 2017
- [67]
-
[68]
Yong, D., Carney, B. W., & Teixera de Almeida, M. L. 2005, AJ, 130, 597
work page 2005
-
[69]
Zinn, J. C., Pinsonneault, M. H., Huber, D., & Stello, D. 2018, ArXiv e-prints [arXiv:1805.02650] Article number, page 14 of 14
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2018
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.