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CCD BVI photometry and Coravel observations of stars in the open cluster NGC2489
We present CCD BVI photometry for the southern open cluster NGC2489 andits surrounding field. The sample consists of 2182 stars measured in anarea of 13.6 × 13.6 arcmin2, extending down to V ~21.5. These data are supplemented with CORAVEL radial-velocityobservations for seven red giant candidates. A cluster angular radius of6.7 +/- 0.6 arcmin, equivalent to 3.5 +/- 0.3 pc, is estimated from starcounts carried out inside and outside the cluster region. The comparisonof the cluster colour-magnitude diagrams with isochrones of the Padovagroup yields E(B - V) = 0.30 +/- 0.05, E(V - I) = 0.40 +/- 0.05 and V -MV = 12.20 +/- 0.25 for log t = 8.70 (t =500+130-100 Myr) and Z = 0.019. NGC2489 is thenlocated at 1.8 +/- 0.3 kpc from the Sun and 25 pc below the Galacticplane. The analysis of the kinematical data allowed us to confirmcluster membership for six red giants, one of them being a spectroscopicbinary. A mean radial velocity of 38.13 +/- 0.33 km s-1 wasderived for the cluster red giants. The properties of a sample of openclusters aligned along the line of sight of NGC2489 are examined.
| Old open clusters as key tracers of Galactic chemical evolution. I. Fe abundances in NGC 2660, NGC 3960, and Berkeley 32
Aims.We obtained high-resolution UVES/FLAMES observations of a sample ofnine old open clusters spanning a wide range of ages and Galactocentricradii. The goal of the project is to investigate the radial metallicitygradient in the disk, as well as the abundance of key elements (αand Fe-peak elements). In this paper we present the results for themetallicity of three clusters: NGC 2660 (age ~1 Gyr, Galactocentricdistance of 8.68 kpc), NGC 3960 (~1 Gyr, 7.80 kpc), and Be 32 (~6-7 Gyr,11.30 kpc). For Be 32 and NGC 2660, our study provides the firstmetallicity determination based on high-resolution spectra.Methods: .We performed equivalent width analysis with the spectral codeMOOG, which allows us to define a metallicity scale and build ahomogeneous sample. Results: .We find that NGC 3960 and NGC 2660have a metallicity that is very close to solar ([Fe/H] = +0.02 and+0.04, respectively), while the older Be 32 turns out to have [Fe/H] =-0.29.
| Photometric and Coravel observations of red giant candidates in three open clusters: membership, binarity, reddening and metallicity
Aims.We present new CORAVEL radial-velocity observations andphotoelectric photometry in the UBV and DDO systems for a sample ofpotential members of the red-giant branches of NGC 6192, NGC 6208 andNGC 6268, three open clusters projected close to the Galactic centerdirection. We also examine the properties of a sample of 42 inner diskopen clusters projected towards almost the same direction as the threeclusters. Methods: .Cluster members and red field giants werediscriminated by using the CORAVEL radial-velocity data and by applyingtwo photometric criteria. Interstellar reddening and metal content ofthe clusters were derived from combined BV and DDO data. Results:.Cluster membership for five red giants in NGC 6192, three in NGC 6208and three in NGC 6268 has been confirmed by the analysis of thephotometric and kinematic data. Photometric membership probabilitiesshow very good agreement with those obtained from CORAVEL radialvelocities. Three new spectroscopic binaries were discovered among thered giants of NGC 6192 and NGC 6208. Mean radial velocities and E(B-V)colour excesses were derived. Conclusions: .The overallmetallicities were found to be nearly solar for NGC 6208 and above solarfor NGC 6192 and NGC 6268. Most of the clusters located closer than 2kpc from the Sun in the considered direction are slightly more reddenedthan the absorption resulting from the Baade's window absorption law.
| Kinematics of the Open Cluster System in the Galaxy
Absolute proper motions and radial velocities of 202 open clusters inthe solar neighborhood, which can be used as tracers of the Galacticdisk, are used to investigate the kinematics of the Galaxy in the solarvicinity, including the mean heliocentric velocity components(u1,u2,u3) of the open cluster system,the characteristic velocity dispersions(σ1,σ2,σ3), Oortconstants (A,B) and the large-scale radial motion parameters (C,D) ofthe Galaxy. The results derived from the observational data of propermotions and radial velocities of a subgroup of 117 thin disk young openclusters by means of a maximum likelihood algorithm are:(u1,u2,u3) =(-16.1+/-1.0,-7.9+/-1.4,-10.4+/-1.5) km s-1,(σ1,σ2,σ3) =(17.0+/-0.7,12.2+/-0.9,8.0+/-1.3) km s-1,(A,B) =(14.8+/-1.0,-13.0+/-2.7) km s-1 kpc-1, and (C,D) =(1.5+/-0.7,-1.2+/-1.5) km s-1 k pc-1. A discussionon the results and comparisons with what was obtained by other authorsis given.
| First estimates of the fundamental parameters of the relatively bright Galactic open cluster NGC 5288
In this paper we present charge-coupled device (CCD) images in theJohnson B and V and Kron-Cousins I passbands for the previouslyunstudied open cluster NGC 5288. The sample consists of 15688 starsreaching down to V~ 20.5. The cluster appears to have a relatively smallbut conspicuous nucleus and a low-density extended coronal region. Starcounts carried out in 25 × 25 pixel2 boxes distributedthroughout the whole observed field allowed us to estimate the angularcore and corona radii as ~1.3 and 6.3arcmin, respectively. Our analysissuggests that NGC 5288 is moderately young and probably more metal-richthan the Sun. Adopting the theoretical metal content Z= 0.040, whichprovides the best global fit, we derive an age of130+40-30Myr. Simultaneously, we have obtainedcolour excesses E(B-V) = 0.75 and E(V-I) = 0.95 and an apparent distancemodulus V-MV= 14.00. The law of interstellar extinction inthe cluster direction is found to be normal. NGC 5288 is located at 2.1+/- 0.3kpc from the Sun beyond the Carina spiral feature and ~7.4kpcfrom the Galactic Centre. The cluster metallicity seems to be compatiblewith the cluster position in the Galaxy, given the recognized radialabundance gradient in the disc. For the first time, in this paper wedetermine the basic parameters for the open cluster NGC 5381, situatedin the same direction as NGC 5288. This determination was reached byusing CCD VI data published almost a decade ago by Pietrzyński etal. (1997) for NGC 5381. The properties of some open clusters alignedalong the line of sight of NGC 5288 are examined. The properties ofclusters of similar ages to NGC 5288 are also looked into. Evidence ispresented that these did not form mainly along the spiral arms butrather in the thin Galactic disc (Z~+/-100pc).
| Proper motion determination of open clusters based on the UCAC2 catalogue
We present the kinematics of hundreds of open clusters, based on theUCAC2 Catalogue positions and proper motions. Membership probabilitieswere obtained for the stars in the cluster fields by applying astatistical method uses stellar proper motions. All open clusters withknown distance were investigated, and for 75 clusters this is the firstdetermination of the mean proper motion. The results, including the DSSimages of the cluster's fields with the kinematic members marked, areincorporated in the Open Clusters Catalogue supported on line by ourgroup.
| New fundamental parameters for the inner disk open cluster Lyngå 11
We have obtained CCD BVIKC photometry down to V ˜ 21.5for the open cluster Lyngå 11 and its surrounding field. Thispreviously unstudied object appears to be rich and highly absorbed. Acluster angular radius of 4.5′ ± 0.5′, equivalent to(3.0 ± 0.3) pc, is estimated from star counts in 100-pixel a sideboxes distributed throughout the whole observed field. Our analysissuggests that Lyngå 11 is moderately young and probably of solarmetallicity. Adopting the theoretical metal content Z = 0.02, whichprovides the best global fit, we derive an age of (630 ± 70) Myr.Simultaneously, colour excesses E(B ‑ V) = 0.70 and E(V ‑ I)= 0.85 and an apparent distance modulus V ‑ MV = 14.0are obtained. These results place Lyngå 11 at a distance of (2.3± 0.5) kpc from the Sun and ˜6.5 kpc from the Galacticcentre. The properties of a sample of clusters aligned along theline-of-sight of Lyngå 11 are examined as well.
| Survey for Transiting Extrasolar Planets in Stellar Systems. II. Spectrophotometry and Metallicities of Open Clusters
We present metallicity estimates for seven open clusters based onspectrophotometric indices from moderate-resolution spectroscopy.Observations of field giants of known metallicity provide a correlationbetween the spectroscopic indices and the metallicity of open clustergiants. We use χ2 analysis to fit the relation ofspectrophotometric indices to metallicity in field giants. The resultingfunction allows an estimate of the target-cluster giants' metallicitieswith an error in the method of +/-0.08 dex. We derive the followingmetallicities for the seven open clusters: NGC 1245, [M/H]=-0.14+/-0.04NGC 2099, [M/H]=+0.05+/-0.05 NGC 2324, [M/H]=-0.06+/-0.04 NGC 2539,[M/H]=-0.04+/-0.03 NGC 2682 (M67), [M/H]=-0.05+/-0.02 NGC 6705,[M/H]=+0.14+/-0.08 NGC 6819, [M/H]=-0.07+/-0.12. These metallicityestimates will be useful in planning future extrasolar planet transitsearches, since planets may form more readily in metal-richenvironments.
| FLAMES observations of old open clusters: Constraints on the evolution of the Galactic disc and mixing processes in stars.
Not Available
| On the distance, reddening and progenitor of V838 Mon
Extensive optical and infrared photometry as well as low and highresolution spectroscopy are used as inputs in deriving robust estimatesof the reddening, distance and nature of the progenitor of V838 Mon, the2002 outbursting event that produced a most spectacular light-echo. Thereddening affecting V838 Mon is found to obey the R_V=3.1 law andamounts to (i) EB-V=0.86 from the interstellar NaI and KIlines; (ii) EB-V=0.88 from the energy distribution of the B3V component; and (iii) EB-V=0.87 from the progression ofextinction along the line of sight. The adoptedEB-V=0.87±0.01 is also the amount required by fittingthe progenitor with theoretical isochrones of appropriate metallicity.The distance is estimated from (a) the galactic kinematics of the threecomponents of the interstellar lines; (b) the amount of extinction vs.the HI column density and vs. the dust emission through the whole Galaxyin that direction; from (c) spectrophotometric parallax to the B3 Vcompanion; from (d) comparison of the observed color-magnitude diagramof field stars with 3D stellar population models of the Galaxy; from (e)comparison of theoretical isochrones with the components of the binarysystem in quiescence and found to be around 10 kpc. Pre-outburst opticaland IR energy distributions show that the component erupting in 2002 wasbrighter and hotter than the B3 V companion. The best fit is obtainedfor a 50 000 K source, 0.5 mag brighter than the B3 V companion. Thelatter passed unaffected through the outburst, which implies an orbitalseparation wide enough to avoid mass exchange during the evolution ofthe binary system, and to allow a safe comparison with theoreticalisochrones for single stars. Such a comparison suggests that theprogenitor of the outbursting component had an initial mass ~65M_ȯ, that it was approaching the carbon ignition stage in its coreat the time it erupted in 2002 and that the age of the V838 Mon binarysystem is close to 4 million yr. The 2002 event is probably just a shellthermonuclear event in the outer envelope of the star.
| Comparison of the Luminosity Functions of Open Clusters Based on USNO-A1 Data
The luminosity and mass functions of a group of Galactic open clustersare constructed by applying a statistical method to photometric datafrom the USNO-A1 catalog. Despite some limitations, this catalog can beused for statistical analyses in Galactic astronomy. Pairwisecomparisons of the derived cluster luminosity functions are performedfor five age intervals. The differences between the luminosity functionsof the open clusters are not statistically significant in most cases. Itis concluded that the luminosity functions are approximately universalthroughout a large volume in the solar neighborhood. Combined luminosityand mass functions are constructed for six age intervals. The slope ofthe mass spectrum may vary somewhat from cluster to cluster, and themean slope may be somewhat higher than the Salpetervalue.
| On the recent star formation history of the Milky Way disk
We have derived the star formation history of the Milky Way disk overthe last 2 Gyr from the age distribution diagram of a large sample ofopen clusters comprising more than 580 objects. By interpreting the agedistribution diagram using numerical results from an extensive libraryof N-body calculations carried out during the last ten years, wereconstruct the recent star formation history of the Milky Way disk.Under the assumption that the disk has never been polluted by anyextragalactic stellar populations, our analysis suggests thatsuperimposed on a relatively small level of constant star formationactivity mainly in small-N star clusters, the star formation rate hasexperienced at least five episodes of enhanced star formation lastingabout 0.2 Gyr with production of larger clusters. This cyclic behaviourshows a period of 0.4+/-0.1 Gyr and could be the result of density wavesand/or interactions with satellite galaxies. On the other hand, the starformation rate history from a volume-limited sample of open clusters inthe solar neighbourhood appears to be consistent with the overall starformation history obtained from the entire sample. Pure continuous starformation both in the solar neighbourhood and the entire Galactic diskis strongly ruled out. Our results also indicate that, in the Milky Waydisk, about 90% of open clusters are born with N<=150 and the slopein the power-law frequency distribution of their masses is about -2.7when quiescent star formation takes place. If the above results arere-interpreted taking into consideration accretion events onto the MilkyWay, it is found that a fraction of the unusually high number of openclusters with ages older than 0.6 Gyr may have been formed in disruptedsatellites. Problems arising from the selection effects and the ageerrors in the open cluster sample used are discussed in detail.
| Improvements on the fundamental parameters of the open cluster Tombaugh 1 through Washington system photometry
We present CCD photometry in the Washington system C and T1passbands down to T1 ˜ 18.5 mag in the field ofTombaugh 1, a little studied open cluster located in the third Galacticquadrant. We measured T1 magnitudes and C-T1colours for a total of 1351 stars distributed throughout an area of 13.6arcmin × 13.6 arcmin. A cluster radius of 4.3 arcmin ± 0.3arcmin was estimated from star counts in 100-pixel a side boxesdistributed throughout the entire observed field. Based on the best fitsof isochrones computed by the Geneva group for Z = 0.008 to theT1 vs. C-T1 colour-magnitude diagram, we derive acolour excess E(C-T1) = 0.55 ± 0.10, equivalent toE(B-V) = 0.30 ± 0.05, a distance of (2.2 ± 0.5) kpc fromthe Sun and an age of 1.3 +0.1-0.2 Gyr. The lattervalue is in good agreement with that derived from the independentmetallicity δT1 index defined in Geisler et al. (1997,AJ, 114, 1920). An independent metallicity estimation using the[MT_1, (C-T1)0] plane with the standardgiant branches of Geisler & Sarajedini (1999, AJ, 117, 308) yields[Fe/H] = -0.30 ± 0.25 dex, a value which lends support to the oneobtained from the isochrone fit. Tombaugh 1 is then found to be arelatively metal-poor intermediate-age open cluster.
| The relatively young, metal-poor and distant open cluster NGC 2324
We have obtained CCD photometry in the Johnson V, Kron-Cousins I andCT1 Washington systems for NGC 2324, a rich open clusterlocated 35° from the Galactic anticentre direction. We measuredV magnitudes and V-I colours for 2865 stars and T1 magnitudesand C-T1 colours for 1815 stars in an area of 13.6 arcmin× 13.6 arcmin. The comparison of the cluster colour-magnitudediagrams with isochrones of the Geneva group yield E(V-I) = 0.33± 0.07 and V-MV = 13.70 ± 0.15 for log t = 8.65(t = 440 Myr) and Z = 0.008 ([Fe/H] = -0.40), and E(C-T1) =0.40 ± 0.10 and T1-MT1 = 13.65 ±0.15 for the same age and metallicity level. The resulting E(V-I)reddening value implies E(B-V) = 0.25 ± 0.05 and a distance fromthe Sun of (3.8 ± 0.5) kpc. Star counts carried out within andoutside the cluster region allowed us to estimate the cluster angularradius as 5.3 arcmin ± 0.3 arcmin (5.9 pc). When using the E(B-V)reddening value here derived and the original Washington photometricdata of \citet{gcm91} for the stars confirmed as red cluster giants fromCoravel radial velocities, we found [Fe/H] = -0.31 ± 0.04, whichis in good agreement with the best fits of isochrones. Therefore, NGC2324 is found to be a relatively young, metal-poor and distant opencluster located beyond the Perseus spiral arm. A comparison of NGC 2324with 10 well-known open clusters of nearly the same age shows that thecluster metal abundance and its position in the Galaxy are consistentwith the existence of a radial abundance gradient of -0.07 dexkpc-1 in the Galactic disc.
| The age of the oldest Open Clusters
We determine ages of 71 old Open Clusters by a two-step method: we usemain-squence fitting to 10 selected clusters, in order to obtain theirdistances, and derive their ages from comparison with our own isochronesused before for Globular Clusters. We then calibrate the morphologicalage indicator δ(V), which can be obtained for all remainingclusters, in terms of age and metallicity. Particular care is taken toensure consistency in the whole procedure. The resulting Open Clusterages connect well to our previous Globular Cluster results. From theOpen Cluster sample, as well as from the combined sample, questionsregarding the formation process of Galactic components are addressed.The age of the oldest open clusters (NGC 6791 and Be 17) is of the orderof 10 Gyr. We determine a delay by 2.0±1.5 Gyr between the startof the halo and thin disk formation, whereas thin and thick disk startedto form approximately at the same time. We do not find any significantage-metallicity relationship for the open cluster sample. The cumulativeage distribution of the whole open cluster sample shows a moderatelysignificant (˜ 2σ level) departure from the predictions foran exponentially declining dissolution rate with timescale of 2.5 Gyr.The cumulative age distribution does not show any trend withgalactocentric distance, but the clusters with larger height to theGalactic plane have an excess of objects between 2-4 and 6 Gyr withrespect to their counterpart closer to the plane of the Galaxy.
| On the Galactic Disk Metallicity Distribution from Open Clusters. I. New Catalogs and Abundance Gradient
We have compiled two new open cluster catalogs. In the first one, thereare 119 objects with ages, distances, and metallicities available, whilein the second one, 144 objects have both absolute proper motion andradial velocity data, of which 45 clusters also have metallicity dataavailable. Taking advantage of the large number of objects included inour sample, we present an iron radial gradient of about -0.063+/-0.008dex kpc-1 from the first sample, which is quite consistentwith the most recent determination of the oxygen gradient from nebulaeand young stars, about -0.07 dex kpc-1. By dividing clustersinto age groups, we show that the iron gradient was steeper in the past,which is consistent with the recent result from Galactic planetarynebulae data, and also consistent with inside-out galactic diskformation scenarios. Based on the cluster sample, we also discuss themetallicity distribution, cluster kinematics, and space distribution. Adisk age-metallicity relation could be implied by those properties,although we cannot give conclusive result from the age- metallicitydiagram based on the current sample. More observations are needed formetal-poor clusters. From the second catalog, we have calculated thevelocity components in cylindrical coordinates with respect to theGalactic standard of rest for 144 open clusters. The velocitydispersions of the older clusters are larger than those of youngclusters, but they are all much smaller than that of the Galactic thickdisk stars.
| Proper Motions of Open Star Clusters and the Rotation Rate of the Galaxy
The mean proper motions of 167 Galactic open clusters withradial-velocity measurements are computed from the data of the Tycho-2catalog using kinematic and photometric cluster membership criteria. Theresulting catalog is compared to the results of other studies. The newproper motions are used to infer the Galactic rotation rate at the solarcircle, which is found to be ω0=+24.6±0.8 km s-1 kpc-1.Analysis of the dependence of the dispersion of ω0 estimates onheliocentric velocity showed that even the proper motions of clusterswith distances r>3 kpc contain enough useful information to be usedin kinematic studies demonstrating that the determination of propermotions is quite justified even for very distant clusters.
| Metallicities of Old Open Clusters
We present radial velocities and metallicities for a sample of 39 openclusters with ages greater than about 700 million years. For 24 clustersnew moderate-resolution spectroscopic data obtained with multiobjectspectrographs on the Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Cerro TololoInter-American Observatory 4 m telescopes are used to determine radialvelocities and mean cluster metallicities. These new results arecombined with data published previously by Friel & Janes to providea sample of 459 giants in 39 old open clusters, which are used toinvestigate radial abundance gradients in the Galactic disk. Based on anupdated abundance calibration of spectroscopic indices measuring Fe andFe-peak element blends, this larger sample yields an abundance gradientof -0.06+/-0.01 dex kpc-1 over a range in Galactocentricradius of 7 to 16 kpc. There is a slight suggestion of a steepening ofthe abundance gradient with increasing cluster age in this sample, butthe significance of the result is limited by the restricted distancerange for the youngest clusters. The clusters show no correlation ofmetallicity with age in the solar neighborhood. Consistent with theevidence for a steepening of the gradient with age, the clusters in theouter disk beyond 10 kpc show a suggestion at the 1.5 σ level of adependence of metallicity on age.
| A SAURON study of M32: measuring the intrinsic flattening and the central black hole mass
We present dynamical models of the nearby compact elliptical galaxy M32,using high-quality kinematic measurements, obtained with theintegral-field spectrograph SAURON mounted on the William HerschelTelescope on La Palma. We also include STIS data obtained previously byJoseph et al. We find a best-fitting black hole mass ofM•= (2.5 +/- 0.5) × 106Msolar and a stellar I-band mass-to-light ratio of (1.85 +/-0.15) Msolar/Lsolar. For the first time, we arealso able to constrain the inclination along which M32 is observed to70°+/- 5°. Assuming that M32 is indeed axisymmetric, theaveraged observed flattening of 0.73 then corresponds to an intrinsicflattening of 0.68 +/- 0.03. These tight constraints are mainly causedby the use of integral-field data. We show this quantitatively bycomparing with models that are constrained by multiple slits only. Weshow the phase-space distribution and intrinsic velocity structure ofthe best-fitting model and investigate the effect of regularization onthe orbit distribution.
| Proper motions of open clusters based on the TYCHO2 Catalogue. II. Clusters farther than 1 kpc
We determined the mean absolute proper motion of 94 open clusterssituated farther than 1 kpc from the Sun. The results are derived fromthe stellar proper motion data given in the Tycho2 Catalogue. The meanproper motion of the clusters and membership probability of individualstars were obtained from the proper motion data by applying thestatistical method proposed by Sanders (\cite{Sanders1971}). Themeasurements made use of a large number of stars, usually several tens,for each cluster. The total number of stars investigated in the fieldsof the clusters is 4864 of which 2021 were considered members. For 55clusters, this is the first determination of the proper motion. Based onobservations of the ESA Hipparcos satellite. Tables 1 to 95 are onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/388/168
| Abundance Gradient from Open Clusters and Implications for the Galactic Disk Evolution
We compile a new sample of 89 open clusters with ages, distances andmetallicities available. We derive a radial iron gradient of about-0.099±0.008 dexkpc (unweighted) for the whole sample, which issomewhat greater than the most recent determination of oxygen gradientfrom nebulae and young stars. By dividing the clusters into age groups,we show that the iron gradient was steeper in the past and has evolvedslowly in time. Current data show a substantial scatter of the clustermetallicities indicating that the Galactic disk has undergone a veryrapid, inhomogeneous enrichment.Also, based on a simple, but quitesuccessful model of chemical evolution of the Milky Way disk, we make adetailed calculation of the iron abundance gradient and its timeevolution. The predicted current iron gradient is about -0.072 dexkpc.The model also predicts a steady flattening of the iron gradient withtime, which agrees with the result from our open cluster sample.
| Membership, Binarity and Stellar Evolution of Red Giants in the Open Clusters NGC 2324, NGC 2818, NGC 3960 and NGC 6259
Not Available
| Red giants in open clusters. IX. NGC 2324, 2818, 3960 and 6259
We present accurate radial velocities and photoelectric UBV photometryfor 73 and 57 red-giant candidates, respectively, in theintermediate-age open clusters NGC 2324, 2818, 3960 and 6259. These dataconfirm the membership of 47 stars, 12 of which (26%) are spectroscopicbinaries; three preliminary orbits have been determined in NGC 3960.From Washington photometry of 8 red giant members, the metallicity ofNGC 6259 is found to be [Fe/H] = 0.06 +/- 0.08. At the age of theseclusters, most of the red giants are observed in the core-helium (clump)burning phase, the general morphology of which is well reproduced bytheoretical models with convective overshooting. However, a number ofbona fide cluster giant members are found significantly to the red ofthe isochrones fitting the rest of the CMD of these and a few otherclusters. Some of these stars are binaries, but others seem to besingle. In either case, their red colours and/or low luminosities remainunexplained by current stellar evolution theory. Based on observationscollected with the Danish 1.54-m telescope at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla (Chile) and at Cerro Tololo Inter-AmericanObservatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, operated by theAssociation of the Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., undercontract with the National Science Foundation.
| UBVI CCD photometry of open cluster NGC 2324.
Not Available
| Foreground and background dust in star cluster directions
This paper compares reddening values E(B-V) derived from the stellarcontent of 103 old open clusters and 147 globular clusters of the MilkyWay with those derived from DIRBE/IRAS 100 mu m dust emission in thesame directions. Star clusters at |b|> 20deg showcomparable reddening values between the two methods, in agreement withthe fact that most of them are located beyond the disk dust layer. Forvery low galactic latitude lines of sight, differences occur in thesense that DIRBE/IRAS reddening values can be substantially larger,suggesting effects due to the depth distribution of the dust. Thedifferences appear to arise from dust in the background of the clustersconsistent with a dust layer where important extinction occurs up todistances from the Plane of ~ 300 pc. For 3 % of the sample asignificant background dust contribution might be explained by higherdust clouds. We find evidence that the Milky Way dust lane and higherdust clouds are similar to those of several edge-on spiral galaxiesrecently studied in detail by means of CCD imaging.
| The STACC Open Cluster Target List
Observations of variable stars offer a potential to test stellarstructure and evolution. The observations can be either of single,isolated stars, or of variable stars in clusters. The STACC group(Frandsen 1992) has for the last several years searched for openclusters with a population of delta Scuti stars. To make this searchmore efficient, we have produced a target list with a number ofpromising open clusters. The list includes parameters, finding charts,Colour-Magnitude diagrams (CM diagrams) and references for the clusters.This target list is presented here, and is thus made available toobservers interested in participating in the search for variable starsin open clusters. In this paper we describe the motivation, contents anduse of the STACC Open Cluster Target List. We also give some guidelineson how to make CCD observations of open clusters in order to search forvariable stars.
| The search for delta Scuti stars in open clusters
In order to improve the tests of models of stellar evolution,observations giving tighter constraints on the models were initiated bythe formation of an informal group STACC (Frandsen, 1992). The purposeof the group is to search for and make observations of delta Scuti starsin open clusters. This paper presents some of the results of the search,mainly for distant open clusters with a rich population of variables.Included is an announcement of a target list (Frandsen & Arentoft1998, The Book) and four examples of new Colour-Magnitude (CM) diagramsof open clusters considered to be interesting targets. Finally, wepresent the fruits of extensive searching: an open cluster that containsmany delta Scuti stars. Based on observations made at the EuropeanSouthern Observatory, La Silla, the Nordic Optical Telescope, ORM, LaPalma and the IAC80, OT, Tenerife
| Corridors in the regions of young open stellar clusters.
Not Available
| Cluster membership determinations from proper motion surveys
Not Available
| Catalogue of blue stragglers in open clusters.
An extensive survey of blue straggler candidates in galactic openclusters of both hemispheres is presented. The blue stragglers wereselected considering their positions in the cluster colour-magnitudediagrams.They were categorized according to the accuracy of thephotometric measurements and membership probabilities. An amount of 959blue straggler candidates in 390 open clusters of all ages wereidentified and classified. A set of basic data is given for everycluster and blue straggler. The information is arranged in the form of acatalogue. Blue stragglers are found in clusters of all ages. Thepercentage of clusters with blue stragglers generally grows with age andrichness of the clusters. The mean ratio of the number of bluestragglers to the number of cluster main sequence stars is approximatelyconstant up to a cluster age of about 10^8.6^ yr and rises for olderclusters. In general, the blue stragglers show a remarkable degree ofcentral concentration.
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