We have initiated a survey using the newly commissioned X‐shooter spectrograph to target candidate relatively metal‐rich damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs). Our rationale is that high‐metallicity DLAs due to the luminosity–metallicity relation likely will have the most luminous galaxy counterparts. In addition, the spectral coverage of X‐shooter allows us to search for not only Lyα emission, but also rest‐frame optical emission lines. We have chosen DLAs where the strongest rest‐frame optical lines ([O ii], [O iii], Hβ and Hα) fall in the near‐infrared atmospheric transmission bands. In this first paper resulting from the survey, we report on the discovery of the galaxy counterpart of the zabs= 2.354 DLA towards the z= 2.926 quasar Q 2222−0946. This DLA is amongst the most metal‐rich z > 2 DLAs studied so far at comparable redshifts and there is evidence for substantial depletion of refractory elements on to dust grains. We measure metallicities from Zn ii, Si ii, Ni ii, Mn ii and Fe ii of −0.46 ± 0.07, − 0.51 ± 0.06, − 0.85 ± 0.06, − 1.23 ± 0.06 and −0.99 ± 0.06, respectively. The galaxy is detected in the Lyα, [O iii]λλ4959, 5007 and Hα emission lines at an impact parameter of about 0.8 arcsec (6 kpc at zabs= 2.354). Based on the Hα line, we infer a star formation rate of 10 M⊙ yr−1, which is a lower limit due to the possibility of slit loss. Compared to the recently determined Hα luminosity function for z= 2.2 galaxies, the DLA‐galaxy counterpart has a luminosity of L∼ 0.1L*Hα. The emission‐line ratios are 4.0 (Lyα/Hα) and 1.2 ([O iii]/Hα). In particular, the Lyα line shows clear evidence for resonant scattering effects, namely an asymmetric, redshifted (relative to the systemic redshift) component and a much weaker blueshifted component. The fact that the blueshifted component is relatively weak indicates the presence of a galactic wind. The properties of the galaxy counterpart of this DLA are consistent with the prediction that metal‐rich DLAs are associated with the most luminous of the DLA‐galaxy counterparts.

This is the second paper of a series reporting on the results from a survey conducted with the ESO VLT/X‐shooter spectrograph. We target high‐metallicity damped Lyman α absorbers (DLAs) with the aim of investigating the relation between galaxies detected in emission and those detected in absorption. Here, we report on the discovery of the galaxy counterpart of the zabs= 2.58 DLA on the line‐of‐sight to the z= 3.07 quasar SDSS J 091826.16+163609.0 (hereafter Q 0918+1636). The galaxy counterpart of the DLA is detected in the [O iii]λ5007 and [O ii]λλ3726, 3729 emission lines redshifted into the NIR at an impact parameter of 2.0 arcsec (16 kpc at z= 2.58). Lyα emission is not detected down to a 3σ detection limit of 5 × 10−18 erg s−1 cm−2, which, compared to the strength of the oxygen lines, implies that Lyα emission from this galaxy is suppressed by more than an order of magnitude. The DLA has one of the highest metallicities measured so far at comparable redshifts. We find evidence for substantial depletion of refractory elements on to dust grains. Fitting the main metal line component of the DLA, which is located at zabs= 2.5832, we measure the metal abundances from Zn ii, S ii, Si ii, Cr ii, Mn ii, Fe ii and Ni ii to be −0.12 ± 0.05, −0.26 ± 0.05, −0.46 ± 0.05, −0.88 ± 0.05, −0.92 ± 0.05, −1.03 ± 0.05 and −0.78 ± 0.05, respectively. In addition, we detect absorption in the Lyman and Werner bands of molecular hydrogen (H2), which represents the first detection of H2 molecules with X‐shooter. The background quasar Q 0918+1636 is amongst the reddest QSOs at redshifts 3.02 < z < 3.12 from the SDSS catalogue. Its UV to NIR spectrum is well fitted by a composite QSO spectrum reddened by SMC‐/LMC‐like extinction curves at zabs= 2.58 with a significant amount of extinction given by AV≈ 0.2 mag. This supports previous claims that there may be more metal‐rich DLAs missing from current samples due to dust reddening of the background QSOs. The fact that there is evidence for dust both in the central emitting regions of the galaxy (as evidenced by the lack of Lyα emission) and at an impact parameter of 16 kpc (as probed by the DLA) suggests that dust is widespread in this system.

We present an analysis of three southern open star clusters NGC 6067, NGC 2506 and IC 4651 using wide-field photometric and Gaia DR2 astrometric data. They are poorly studied clusters. We took advantage of the synergy between Gaia DR2 high precision astrometric measurements and ground based wide-field photometry to isolate cluster members and further study these clusters. We identify the cluster members using proper motions, parallax and colour-magnitude diagrams. Mean proper motion of the clusters in µ α cosδ and µ δ is estimated as −1.90 ± 0.01 and −2.57 ± 0.01 mas yr −1 for NGC 6067, −2.57±0.01 and 3.92±0.01 mas yr −1 for NGC 2506 and −2.41±0.01 and −5.05 ± 0.02 mas yr −1 for IC 4651. Distances are estimated as 3.01 ± 0.87, 3.88 ± 0.42 and 1.00 ± 0.08 kpc for the clusters NGC 6067, NGC 2506 and IC 4651 respectively using parallaxes taken from Gaia DR2 catalogue. Galactic orbits are determined for these clusters using Galactic potential models. We find that these clusters have circular orbits. Cluster radii are determined as 10 for NGC 6067, 12 for NGC 2506 and 11 for IC 4651. Ages of the clusters estimated by isochrones fitting are 66 ± 8 Myr, 2.09 ± 0.14 Gyr and 1.59 ± 0.14 Gyr for NGC 6067, NGC 2506 and IC 4651 respectively. Mass function slope for the entire region of cluster NGC 2506 is found to be comparable with the Salpeter value in the mass range 0.77 -1.54 M . The mass function analysis shows that the slope becomes flat when one goes from halo to core region in all the three clusters. A comparison of dynamical age with cluster's age indicates that NGC 2506 and IC 4651 are dynamically relaxed clusters.

Abstract. Based on an extensive site survey conducted during [1980][1981][1982][1983][1984][1985][1986][1987][1988][1989][1990] in the Shivalik Hills of the Central Himalayan range, a promising site Devasthal has been identified. The longitude and latitude of Devasthal Peak are 79• 41 E and 29• 23 N. It is situated at an altitude of 2540 m and about 50 km by road from Nainital towards East. The surroundings of Devasthal are thinly populated and it is logistically well suited for establishing modern optical observational facilities. The prevailing wind direction at Devasthal is NW. For a large fraction of the night time, variation in the ambient temperature was less than a degree and wind speed was less than 10 m/s. During spectroscopic nights (> 200 in a year) relative humidity is less than 80% for about 70% of the time. During 1997 and 1998 seeing measurements using differential image motion techniques have been carried out close to ground at two locations namely Site 1 and Site 2 in Devasthal. Our observations for Site 1 carried over 88 nights yield a median seeing value of 1. 4. For Devasthal Site 2 observations carried over 37 nights yield a median seeing value of 1. 1. Devasthal Site 2 has therefore been selected for locating a modern 3 m optical telescope.

We present a comprehensive analysis (photometric and kinematical) of the poorly studied open cluster NGC 4337 using 2MASS, WISE, APASS, and Gaia DR2 databases. By determining the membership probabilities of stars, we identified the 624 most probable members with membership probability higher than 50% by using proper motion and parallax data taken from Gaia DR2. The mean proper motion of the cluster is obtained as and μ y  = 1.49 ± 0.006 mas yr−1. We find the normal interstellar extinction toward the cluster region. The radial distribution of members provides a cluster radius of 7.′75 (5.63 pc). The estimated age of 1600 ± 180 Myr indicates that NGC 4337 is an old open cluster with a bunch of red giant stars. The overall mass function slope for main-sequence stars is found as within the mass range 0.75−2.0 , which is in fair agreement with Salpeter’s value (x = 1.35) within uncertainty. The present study demonstrates that NGC 4337 is a dynamically relaxed open cluster. Using the Galactic potential model, Galactic orbits are obtained for NGC 4337. We found that this object follows a circular path around the Galactic center. Under the kinematical analysis, we compute the apex coordinates (A, D) by using two methods: (i) the classical convergent point method and (ii) the AD-diagram method. The obtained coordinates are (A conv, D conv) = (96.°27 ± 0.°10, 13.°14 ± 0.°27) and (A ◦, D ◦) = (100.°282 ± 0.°10, 9.°577 ± 0.°323) respectively. We also computed the Velocity Ellipsoid Parameters, matrix elements (μ ij ), direction cosines (l j , m j , n j ), and the Galactic longitude of the vertex (l 2).