RR Lyrae (RR Lyr) stars are a well-known and useful distance indicator for old stellar populations such as globular clusters and dwarf galaxies. Fundamental-mode RR Lyr (RRab) stars are commonly used to measure distances, and the accuracy of the determined distance is strongly constrained by metallicity. Here, we investigate the metallicity dependence in the period–luminosity (PL) relation of double-mode RR Lyr (RRd) stars. We find and establish a linear relation between metallicity and period or period ratio for RRd stars. This relation can predict the metallicity as accurately as the low-resolution spectra. Based on this relation, we establish a metallicity-independent PL relation for RRd stars. Combining the distance of the Large Magellanic Cloud and Gaia parallaxes, we calibrate the zero point of the derived PL relation to an error of 0.022 mag. Using RRd stars, we measure the distances of globular clusters and dwarf galaxies with an accuracy of 2-3% and 1-2%, respectively. In the future, RRd stars could anchor galaxy distances to an accuracy of 1.0% and become an independent distance ladder in the Local Group.

The metallicity distribution function (MDF) of the stellar components of the Milky Way hold valuable information regarding the processes that have taken place in the evolution of our Galaxy. In this proceeding, we investigate updates concerning the MDF now that the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) catalogue has been released and that trigonometric distances are available. In particular, vertical changes and skewness of the MDF are investigated, together with the properties of the metal-rich stars in the sample, at different positions in the Galaxy.

Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are the most advanced stage in the evolution of the most massive stars. The strong feedback provided by these objects and their subsequent supernova (SN) explosions are decisive for a variety of astrophysical topics such as the cosmic matter cycle. Consequently, understanding the properties of WR stars and their evolution is indispensable. A crucial but still not well known quantity determining the evolution of WR stars is their mass-loss rate. Since the mass loss is predicted to increase with metallicity, the feedback provided by these objects and their spectral appearance are expected to be a function of the metal content of their host galaxy. This has severe implications for the role of massive stars in general and the exploration of low metallicity environments in particular. Hitherto, the metallicity dependence of WR star winds was not well studied. In this contribution, we review the results from our comprehensive spectral analyses of WR stars in environments of different metallicities, ranging from slightly super-solar to SMC-like metallicities. Based on these studies, we derived empirical relations for the dependence of the WN mass-loss rates on the metallicity and iron abundance, respectively.

The physical processes taking place in massive stars during their life and death are highly dependent on the metallicity (Z) of their parent cloud. Observations of these stars in low-Z nearby galaxies are crucial to understand these processes. IC1613 is the nearest Local Group galaxy with ongoing star formation and O-abundance lower than the SMC, although UV spectroscopy suggests it is not so metal poor. We performed a spectral analysis of early B-type stars in the galaxy, obtaining physical parameters and abundances. Our results confirm the low O-abundance of IC1613.

Much of the new dust in the local ISM is produced in the last phases of stellar evolution of low- and intermediate-mass stars on the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB). Despite its importance, our knowledge of how dust properties depend on metallicity is limited. Studies of planetary nebulae in irregular galaxies in the Local Group (mostly focused on the LMC and SMC) have revealed a diverse spectral zoo and shown that low metallicity favours carbon-rich dust production by AGB stars. However, at ~1/3 and ~1/5 times the solar metallicity respectively, they provide two snapshots of dust composition at low metallicity, emphasising the need to investigate a region with a range of metallicity values. With its abundance gradient, the Milky Way fits this criterion and provides a good opportunity to observe the dust composition over a large metallicity range. In particular the Galactic anti-center, which is largely unexplored beyond galactocentric distances of 10 kpc, allows us to study the AGB dust a priori assumed to be metal-poor as well as exploring the extent of the Galactic abundance gradient. We analyse a Spitzer spectroscopic sample of 23 planetary nebulae towards the anti-center in order to understand how the metallicity gradient extends beyond 10 kpc from the Galactic center and to observe the dust composition in this region of our Galaxy. We find that the abundance gradients of Ne, S and Ar continue to distances of around 20 kpc (albeit with a large scatter) and the dust emission shows a carbon-rich chemistry similar to that in the Magellanic Clouds.

The concept of a Galactic Habitable Zone (GHZ) was introduced for the Milky Way galaxy a decade ago as an extension of the earlier concept of the Circumstellar Habitable Zone. In this work, we consider the extension of the concept of a GHZ to other types of galaxies by considering two elliptical galaxies as examples, M87 and M32. We argue that the defining feature of the GHZ is the probability of planet formation which has been assumed to depend on the metallicity. We have compared the metallicity distribution of nearby stars with the metallicity of stars with planets to document the correlation between metallicity and planet formation and to provide a comparison to other galaxies. Metallicity distribution, based on the [Fe/H] ratio to solar, of nearby stars peaks at [Fe/H]≈−0.2 dex, whereas the metallicity distribution of extrasolar planet host stars peaks at [Fe/H]≈+0.4 dex. We compare the metallicity distribution of extrasolar planet host stars with the metallicity distribution of the outer star clusters of M87 and M32. The metallicity distribution of stars in the outer regions of M87 peaks at [Fe/H]≈−0.2 dex and extends to [Fe/H]≈+0.4 dex, which seems favourable for planet formation. The metallicity distribution of stars in the outer regions of M32 peaks at [Fe/H]≈−0.2 dex and extends to a much lower [Fe/H]. Both elliptical galaxies met the criteria of a GHZ. In general, many galaxies should support habitable zones.

Using data from HST/STIS (Hubble Space Telescope / Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph) and FUSE (Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer) toward two QSOs, H1821+643 and HS0624+6907, we find that the overall metallicity of the Galactic “Outer Arm” is Z=0.3−0.5 Z⊙ with underabundant nitrogen and little depletion by dust. The results are consistent with those based on H II region measurements in the outer galaxy and provide additional constrains on models of the Galactic abundance gradient and Milky Way (MW) chemical evolution. The lower metallicity observed in the outer galaxy is consistent with abundance patterns observed in higher redshift damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs) extrapolated to z=0. The slow metallicity evolution of DLAs could be due to the larger cross sections of the outer regions of galaxies combined with the observed metallicity gradients.

Most dwarf elliptical galaxies except for ‘dE, N’ galaxies which are characterized by young stellar populations in the nuclear regions are located in the high density environment. The colors and spectra of ‘dE, N’ galaxies are different from other types, in the sense that they have redder colors with little emission lines. The majority of dwarf elliptical galaxies are younger than 7 Gyr with metallicity larger than [z/H]=−0.5.

As the number of large scale ground- and space-bound planet detection and imaging projects is growing, the need for theoretical guidance in order to optimize instrumental design is rapidly mounting. In an effort to provide this required framework, we present the results of Monte Carlo simulations of the formation of giant planets and compare them with the current population of exoplanets. Our models show that due to the severe current observational detection bias only a small percentage (3.6 %) of the potentially existing planets can be detected. Indeed, a large number of planetary embryos never grow enough to become giant planets giving raise to a large populations of bodies with masses smaller than ${\simeq} 5 M_{\hbox{\it \scriptsize jup}}$. In addition, this observational bias, coupled with the fact that systems enriched in heavy elements tend to form more massive planets, explains the currently observed correlation between stellar metallicity and likelihood to host planets. Finally, we show that the disk gas delivery rate during the late stages of formation actually determines the maximum planetary mass.

The metallicity difference of about an order between the kinematically decoupled nuclei and the surrounding bulges is found in 3 spiral galaxies possessing an axisymmetric potential in their centres.

Using UBVRI photometry and proper motions we have developed a procedure to separate dwarfs and subdwarfs from stars of other luminosity classes. Three independent methods to take into account the effect of metallicity in photometric distance determinations have been applied, giving special attention to the use of infrared colours for stars with (B – V) > 0.8m.

The application of these methods to a sample of 426 stars included in the HIPPARCOS Input Catalogue –for which we have obtained photometric data– allow us to analyze systematic differences.