NEW EVIDENCE SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP FOR TW NOR IN LYNGÅ 6 AND THE CENTAURUS SPIRAL ARM

The putative association between the classical Cepheid TW Nor and the open cluster Lyngå 6 has generated considerable debate in the literature. New JHKs photometry in tandem with existing radial velocities for Lyngå 6 stars implies cluster membership for TW Nor and establishes the variable as a high-weight calibrator for classical Cepheid relations. Fundamental mean parameters determined for Lyngå 6 are: d = 1.91 ± 0.10 kpc, E(J − H) = 0.38 ± 0.02, and log τ = 7.9 ± 0.1. The Benedict et al./Turner Galactic VIc Wesenheit function was revised using TW Nor's new parameters: WVI, 0 = (− 3.37 ± 0.08)log P0 − 2.48 ± 0.08. TW Nor/Lyngå 6 lie beyond the Sagittarius–Carina spiral arm and occupy the Centaurus arm, along with innumerable young Cepheids and clusters (e.g., VW Cen and VVV CL070).