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Towards absolute scales for the radii and masses of open clusters
Aims. In this paper we derive tidal radii and masses of open clusters inthe nearest kiloparsecs around the Sun. Methods: For each cluster, themass is estimated from tidal radii determined from a fitting ofthree-parameter King profiles to the observed integrated densitydistribution. Different samples of members are investigated. Results:For 236 open clusters, all contained in the catalogue ASCC-2.5, weobtain core and tidal radii, as well as tidal masses. The distributionsof the core and tidal radii peak at about 1.5 pc and 7-10 pc,respectively. A typical relative error of the core radius lies between15% and 50%, whereas, for the majority of clusters, the tidal radius wasdetermined with a relative accuracy better than 20%. Most of theclusters have tidal masses between 50 and 1000 m_ȯ, and for abouthalf of the clusters, the masses were obtained with a relative errorbetter than 50%.Full Table 2 is only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/468/151
| NGC 7419: a young open cluster with a number of very young intermediate mass pre-MS stars
We present a photometric and spectroscopic study of the young opencluster NGC 7419, which is known to host a large number of classical Bestars for reasons not well understood. Based on CCD photometricobservations of 327 stars in UBV passbands, we estimated the clusterparameters as, reddening [E(B - V)] = 1.65 +/- 0.15 mag and distance =2900 +/- 400 pc. The turn-off age of the cluster was estimated as 25 +/-5 Myr using isochrone fits. UBV data of the stars were combined with theJHK data from Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) and were used to createthe near-infrared (NIR) (J - H) versus (H - K) colour-colour diagram. Alarge fraction of stars (42 per cent) was found to have NIR excess andtheir location in the diagram was used to identify them as intermediatemass pre-main-sequence (MS) stars. The isochrone fits to pre-MS stars inthe optical colour-magnitude diagram showed that the turn-on age of thecluster is 0.3-3 Myr. This indicates that there has been a recentepisode of star formation in the vicinity of the cluster.Slitless spectra were used to identify 27 stars which showed Hα inemission in the field of the cluster, of which six are newidentifications. All these stars were found to show NIR excess and arelocated closer to the region populated by Herbig Ae/Be stars in the (J -H) versus (H - K) diagram. Slit spectra of 25 stars were obtained in theregion 3700-9000 Å. The spectral features were found to be verysimilar to those of Herbig Be stars. These stars were found to be morereddened than the main-sequence stars by 0.4 mag, on an average. Thus,the emission-line stars found in this cluster are more similar to theHerbig Be-type stars where the circumstellar material is the remnant ofthe accretion disc. We conclude that the second episode of starformation has led to the formation of a large number of Herbig Be starsas well as intermediate mass pre-MS stars in the field of NGC 7419, thusexplaining the presence of emission-line stars in this cluster. Thiscould be one of the young open clusters with the largest number ofHerbig Be stars.
| XMM-Newton observation of the Be/neutron star system RX J0146.9+6121: a soft X-ray excess in a low luminosity accreting pulsar
We report on the XMM-Newton observation of the Be/neutron star X-raybinary system RX J0146.9+6121, a long period (~23 m) pulsar in the NGC663 open cluster. The X-ray luminosity decreased by a factor of twocompared to the last observation carried out in 1998, reaching a levelof 1×1034 erg s-1, the lowest everobserved in this source. The spectral analysis reveals the presence of asignificant excess at low energies over the main power-law spectralcomponent. The soft excess can be described by a black-body spectrumwith a temperature of about 1 keV and an emitting region with a radiusof ~140 m. Although the current data do not permit us to ascertainwhether the soft excess is pulsed or not, its properties are consistentwith emission from the neutron star polar cap. This is the thirddetection of a soft excess in a low luminosity(1×1034 erg s-1) pulsar, the othersbeing X Per and 3A 0535+262, suggesting that such a spectral component,observed to date in higher luminosity systems, is a common feature ofaccreting X-ray pulsars. The results of these three sources indicatethat, in low luminosity systems, the soft excess tends to have a highertemperature and a smaller surface area than in the high luminosity ones.
| 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.
| The Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment. Variable Stars in the Field of Open Cluster NGC6259
We present the results of a search for variable stars in the field ofNGC6259. Altogether 85 variable stars have been discovered. 36 of themare eclipsing systems. This group contains 13 EA, 2 EB and 21 EW-typestars. Light curves of two variable stars resemble those of Miras. Theremaining 47 variable stars detected in the field of this open clusterare most probably highly obscured red giants (OSARG, irregular). For alldetected variable stars we provide their light curves, preliminaryclassification, discussion on the possible cluster membership,equatorial coordinates, finding charts and periods when possible.
| Study of emission line stars in young open clusters using slit-less spectra: NGC 663.
Not Available
| NGC 146: a young open cluster with a Herbig Be star and intermediate mass pre-main sequence stars
We present UBV CCD photometry and low-resolution spectra of stars in thefield of the young open cluster NGC 146. UBV photometry of 434 starswere used to estimate the E(B-V) reddening of 0.55 ± 0.04 mag andBV photometry of 976 stars were used to estimate a distance modulus of(m-M)0 = 12.7 ± 0.2 mag, corresponding to a distanceof 3470+335-305 pc. We estimated 10-16 Myr as theturn-off age for the upper main sequence of the cluster using isochronesand synthetic colour magnitude diagrams. We identified two B type starswith Hα in emission and located on the MS using slit-less spectra.A higher resolution spectrum of the brighter Be star indicated thepresence of a number of emission lines, with some lines showing thesignature of gas infall. This star was found to be located in the regionof Herbig Ae/Be stars in the (J-H) vs. (H-K) colour-colour diagram.Thus, we identify this star as a Herbig Be star. On the other hand, 54stars were found to show near infrared excess, of which 17 were found tobe located in the region of Herbig Ae/Be stars and 18 stars were foundto be located in the region of Be stars in the NIR colour-colourdiagram. Thus NGC 146 is a young cluster with a large number ofintermediate mass pre-main sequence stars. The turn-on age of thecluster is found to be ~3 Myr. Though NGC 146 shows an older turn off,the bulk of stars in this cluster seems to belong to the youngerpopulation of 3 Myr.
| The Effective Temperature Scale of Galactic Red Supergiants: Cool, but Not As Cool As We Thought
We use moderate-resolution optical spectrophotometry and the new MARCSstellar atmosphere models to determine the effective temperatures of 74Galactic red supergiants (RSGs). The stars are mostly members of OBassociations or clusters with known distances, allowing a criticalcomparison with modern stellar evolutionary tracks. We find we canachieve excellent matches between the observations and the reddenedmodel fluxes and molecular transitions, although the atomic lines Ca Iλ4226 and Ca II H and K are found to be unrealistically strong inthe models. Our new effective temperature scale is significantly warmerthan those in the literature, with the differences amounting to 400 Kfor the latest type M supergiants (i.e., M5 I). We show that the newlyderived temperatures and bolometric corrections give much betteragreement with stellar evolutionary tracks. This agreement provides acompletely independent verification of our new temperature scale. Thecombination of effective temperature and bolometric luminosities allowsus to calculate stellar radii; the coolest and most luminous stars (KWSgr, Case 75, KY Cyg, HD 206936=μ Cep) have radii of roughly 1500Rsolar (7 AU), in excellent accordance with the largeststellar radii predicted from current evolutionary theory, althoughsmaller than that found by others for the binary VV Cep and for thepeculiar star VY CMa. We find that similar results are obtained for theeffective temperatures and bolometric luminosities using only thedereddened V-K colors, providing a powerful demonstration of theself-consistency of the MARCS models.
| Astrophysical parameters of Galactic open clusters
We present a catalogue of astrophysical data for 520 Galactic openclusters. These are the clusters for which at least three most probablemembers (18 on average) could be identified in the ASCC-2.5, a catalogueof stars based on the Tycho-2 observations from the Hipparcos mission.We applied homogeneous methods and algorithms to determine angular sizesof cluster cores and coronae, heliocentric distances, mean propermotions, mean radial velocities, and ages. For the first time we derivedistances for 200 clusters, radial velocities for 94 clusters, and agesof 196 clusters. This homogeneous new parameter set is compared withearlier determinations, where we find, in particular, that the angularsizes were systematically underestimated in the literature.
| Stellar contents of two young open clusters: NGC 663 and 654
UBVRI CCD photometry in a wide field around two young open clusters, NGC663 and 654, has been carried out. Hα and polarimetricobservations for the cluster NGC 654 have also been obtained. We use thephotometric data to construct colour-colour and colour-magnitudediagrams, from which we can investigate the reddening, age, mass andevolutionary states of the stellar contents of the these clusters. Thereddening across the cluster regions is found to be variable. There isevidence for anomalous reddening law in both clusters; however, moreinfrared and polarimetric data are needed to conclude about thereddening law. Both clusters are situated at about a distance of 2.4kpc. Star formation in both clusters is found to be a continuousprocess. In the case of NGC 663, star formation seems to have takenplace sequentially, in the sense that formation of low-mass starsprecedes the formation of most massive stars. Whereas, in the case ofNGC 654, formation of low-mass stars did not cease after the formationof most massive stars in the cluster.
| CCD uvbyβ photometry of the young open cluster NGC 663
NGC 663 is a young, moderately rich open cluster, known to contain oneof the largest fractions of Be stars among all galactic clusters. Inthis work we present CCD uvbyβ photometry for stars in its centralarea. We have used these data to obtain the main cluster physicalparameters. We find that the reddening is highly variable, with valuesranging from E(b-y) = 0.639 +/- 0.032 in the central part to E(b-y) =0.555 +/- 0.038 in the south-east. The distance modulus is found to be11.6 +/- 0.1 mag (2.1 kpc) and the age logt= 7.4 +/- 0.1 yr(25+7-5 Myr). The age obtained is consistent withthe interpretation of the Be phenomenon as an evolutionary effect.
| The Massive Runaway Stars HD 14633 and HD 15137
We present results from a radial velocity study of two runaway O-typestars, HD 14633 (ON8.5 V) and HD 15137 [O9.5 III(n)]. We find that HD14633 is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with an orbital period of15.4083 days. The second target, HD 15137, is a radial velocity variableand a possible single-lined spectroscopic binary with a period close to1 month. Both binaries have large eccentricity, small semiamplitude, anda small mass function. We show the trajectories of the stars in the skybased on an integration of motion in the Galactic potential, and wesuggest that both stars were ejected from the vicinity of the opencluster NGC 654 in the Perseus spiral arm. The binary orbital parametersand runaway velocities are consistent with the idea that both thesestars were ejected by supernova explosions in binaries and that theyhost neutron star companions. We find that the time of flight sinceejection is longer than the predicted evolutionary timescales for thestars. This discrepancy may indicate that the stars have a lower massthan normally associated with their spectral classifications, that theywere rejuvenated by mass transfer prior to the supernova, or that theirlives have been extended through rapid rotation.Based in part on observations made at the Observatoire de Haute Provence(CNRS), France.
| 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.
| The Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61: Variability in the infrared and a spectral break in the optical
We present new optical and infrared observations of the counterpart tothe Anomalous X-ray Pulsar (AXP) 4U 0142+61 taken with the Keck Itelescope. The counterpart is found to be variable in the infrared. Thiscontrasts with our optical observations, which do not show any evidencefor variability. Apart from the variability the AXP shows a remarkablespectral energy distribution. In particular, we find a sudden drop influx going from V to B, presumably due to a spectral feature. We compareour results to those obtained for the two other securely identified AXPcounterparts, to 1E 2259+586 and 1E 1048.1-5937. 4U 0142+61 is verysimilar to the former source in its X-ray timing and spectralproperties, and we find that this similarity extends to the quiescentinfrared to X-ray flux ratio. For 1E 1048.1-5937, which has differentX-ray properties, the situation is less clear: in one observation, theinfrared to X-ray flux ratio was much larger, but another observationgave an upper limit which is consistent with that observed for 4U0142+61. Assuming the quiescent ratios are all similar, we estimate theoptical and infrared brightnesses for the three AXPs that remain to beidentified as well as for the four Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters. We alsodiscuss briefly how the observed optical and infrared emission mightarise, in particular in the context of the magnetar model.Table 3 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/416/1037
| Rotation of Early B-type Stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud: The Role of Evolution and Metallicity
I present measurements of the projected rotational velocities of asample of 100 early B-type main-sequence stars in the Large MagellanicCloud (LMC). This is the first extragalactic study of the distributionof stellar rotational velocities. The sample is drawn from two sources:from the vicinity of the main-sequence turnoff of young clusters (ages1-3×107yr) and from the general field. I find that thecluster population exhibits significantly more rapid rotation than thatseen in the field. I have drawn analogous Galactic cluster and fieldsamples from the literature. Comparison of these samples reveals thesame effect. I propose that the observed difference between cluster andfield populations can be explained by a scenario of evolutionaryenhancement of the surface angular momentum over the main-sequencelifetime. A comparison is made between the cluster and field populationsof the LMC and the Galaxy in order to explore the effects ofmetallicity. This shows that the stars of the LMC are more rapidrotators than their Galactic counterparts.
| Metallicity distribution on the galactic disk
Depending mainly on UBVCCD data, the metallicities of 91 open starclusters nearby the galactic disk have been estimated using Cameron's[A&A 147 (1985b) 39] method. The metallicity radial gradient alongthe galactic plane is found to be -0.09 dex/kpc; which is in a very goodagreement with Panagia and Tosi [A&A 96 (1981) 306] and Carraro etal. [MNRAS 296 (1998) 1045]. Vertically on the galactic disk, withinabout 800 pc, the metallicity gradient is found to be so trivial. Anaverage age-metallicity relation has been examined, which confirms theprevious suggestion that the metallicity of a cluster depending mainlyon its position on the galactic disk more than its age.
| Distances to Cepheid open clusters via optical and K-band imaging
We investigate the reddening and main-sequence-fitted distances to 11young, Galactic open clusters that contain Cepheids. Each clustercontains or is associated with at least one Cepheid variable star.Reddening to the clusters is estimated using the U-B:B-V colours of theOB stars and the distance modulus to the cluster is estimated via B-V:Vand V-K:V colour-magnitude diagrams. Our main-sequence fitting assumesthat the solar-metallicity zero-age main sequence of Allen appliesuniversally to all the open clusters, although this point iscontroversial at present. In this way we proceed to calibrate theCepheid period-luminosity (PL) relation and find MV=-2.87× logP- 1.243 +/- 0.09, MK=-3.44 × logP- 2.21 +/-0.10 and absolute distance moduli to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) of18.54 +/- 0.10 from the V-band and 18.48 +/- 0.10 from the K-band givingan overall distance modulus to the LMC of μ0= 18.51 +/-0.10. This is in good agreement with the previous Cepheid PL-K result ofLaney & Stobie at μ0= 18.51 +/- 0.09 and with theHipparcos parallax-calibrated Cepheid PL-K estimate of Feast &Catchpole at μ0= 18.66 +/- 0.10 when no account is takenof the LMC metallicity.We also find that the two-colour U-B:B-V diagrams of two importantclusters are not well fitted by the standard main-sequence line. In onecase, NGC 7790, we find that the F stars show a UV excess and in thesecond case, NGC 6664, they are too red in U-B. Previous spectroscopicestimates of the metallicity of the Cepheids in these clusters appear tosuggest that the effects are not due to metallicity variations. Otherpossible explanations for these anomalies are positional variations inthe dust reddening law and contamination by foreground or backgroundstars.
| The Lack of Blue Supergiants in NGC 7419, a Red Supergiant-rich Galactic Open Cluster with Rapidly Rotating Stars
According to previous studies based on photometry alone, NGC 7419reveals a surprisingly low ratio of blue to red supergiants: only oneblue supergiant (BSG) along with a record number of five red supergiants(RSGs). However, for a cluster like NGC 7419 with solar metallicity, oneexpects twice as many BSGs as RSGs. To verify the small ratio of BSGs toRSGs, we have obtained spectroscopic observations of the seven mostluminous blue member stars using the 1.6 m telescope of the MountMégantic Observatory. (The RSGs have already been studiedspectroscopically.) To classify the stars, we have developed a systemespecially adapted for these heavily reddened stars in a spectral regionfrom 8400 to 8920 Å, near the hydrogen Paschen series limit. Thisclassification system is based on standard stars of known MK spectraltype extending over O9-B5 and all luminosity classes and is linkedthrough a grid of synthetic spectra to the atmospheric physicalparameters Teff and logg. We also include Be stars. Among theseven blue stars observed in NGC 7419, four have red spectra that aredominated by absorption lines and three by emission lines. The spectraltypes for the former are B2.5 II-III, B2.5 III, B0 III, and B4 III (e),while those for the latter are Be, B1 III-Ve, and Be, respectively. Theaverage heliocentric radial velocity of these stars is -66+/-6 kms-1, compatible with the value of -74+/-9 km s-1measured for the five RSG members. A distance of 1.7+/-0.4 kpc for thiscluster was estimated using the blue-star spectral types, in agreementwith the value of 2.3+/-0.3 kpc found by Beauchamp and coworkers, basedon isochrone fitting in the color-magnitude diagram. With no BSG starsdetected spectroscopically, we confirm the low number, in this caseabsence, of BSGs in this cluster. The high fraction of Be stars detectedby us and others among the bright blue member stars could be explainedby an average rotational velocity for the stars in NGC 7419, which issignificantly higher than in other clusters of similar age andmetallicity. Since higher stellar rotation rates shorten the BSG phase,we suggest that this explains why the evolved stars in NGC 7419 havebecome RSGs. Thus, NGC 7419 is an exceptional case, since high stellarrotation normally tends to occur at lower metallicity.
| A CCD Search for Variable Stars of Spectral Type B in the Northern Hemisphere Open Clusters. V. NGC 2169
We present results of a search for variable stars in the field of theyoung open cluster NGC 2169. The General Catalogue of Variable Stars(GCVS, http://www.sai.msu.su/groups/cluster/gcvs/) lists four variablestars in the field we observed, viz., two beta Cep stars, V 916 and V917Ori, an alpha^2CVn variable, V 1356Ori, and an RRc variable, V1154Ori. We find V 916 and V 1154Ori to be constant in light. We confirmthe variability of V 917Ori, but not the period given in GCVS. For thechemically peculiar A0 V Si star V 1356Ori we definitely establish theperiod of 1.565 d, thus settling the uncertainty persisting in theliterature since the star was discovered to be variable. In addition, wefind two other stars to be variable in light. Both show irregularvariations.For V 917Ori, one of the two GCVS beta Cep variables, we determine aperiod of 0.267 d (frequency 3.7477d^-1). However, prewhitening withthis period leaves a significant amount of the star's light-variationunaccounted for. Since the star shows emission at Hα, wehypothesize that the unaccounted for variation is caused by an erratic,Be-type activity. As to the periodic term, we consider three hypotheses:(1) beta Cep-type pulsation, (2) rotational modulation of the lambda Eritype, and (3) ellipsoidal variation due to distorted primary componentin a close binary system. After deriving the star's effectivetemperature from Stromgren indices and the luminosity from the distancemodulus of the cluster, we show that while the third hypothesis isuntenable, the first two should be retained. However, neither isentirely satisfactory.For a number of stars we provide the V magnitudes. For 14 brighteststars in our field we also obtain the photometric alpha-index, a measureof the Hα equivalent width. From the alpha index, we detect mildemission at Hα in two stars, V 917Ori and NGC 2169-8.
| Wide Field CCD Photometry of the Young Open Cluster NGC 663
A deep and wide field CCD photometry of the young open cluster NGC 663has been carried out. We report preliminary results of ourinvestigations, specifically the determination of the cluster massfunction which is found variable within the cluster region.
| Studies of Young Stellar Objects
We present a detailed study of four young open star clusters and two OBassociations using deep CCD U B V R I and 2MASS J H Ks measurements.Physical parameters of the clusters have been estimated using optical aswell as near-IR data. Ages of objects under study range 10-100 Myr. Massfunction slope of the sample of clusters are in agreement with theSalpeter (1955) value. From a comparison of mass function slope ofclusters and OB associations in our Galaxy with those in externalgalaxies, we urgue that the star formation processes are such that theyyield almost similar stellar mass distribution in vastly different starforming environments. Mass segregation suggests that the clusters understudy are dynamically relaxed and hence mass segregation may be due todynamical evolution or imprint of star formation or both. The extinctionproperties of a sample of 18 young star clusters have been investigatedutilizing recent data available in literature. The study suggests thatthere is no uniformity in extinction properties amongst these clusters.A non-uniform extinction has been noticed for the first time in NGC 1502and Tr 37 along with the existence of circumstellar shell around someearly type stars in NGC 884, NGC 2264, Tr 14 and Tr 16.
| Open Star Clusters: Star Formation and Structure
Observational evidences indicate that the formation of open starclusters has been efficient throughout the life of our Galaxy. As aconsequence, we find open clusters with ages ranging from a few Myr tofew Gyr. This makes open clusters natural laboratories where we can testthe theory of star formation and stellar evolution. Study of young openclusters indicates that the star formation in a few clusters isnon-coeval and the star formation efficiency depends on the IMF. Ourwork supports the existence of corona around open clusters. The coronalregions in bound open clusters are dynamically stable in the tidalforces 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.
| Interstellar extinction in the open clusters towards galactic longitude around 130deg
In this paper we present a detailed study of the intra-cluster reddeningmaterial in the young open clusters located around l ~ 130degusing colour-excess diagrams and two-colour diagrams. The study supportsthe universality of the extinction curves for lambda >= lambdaJ, whereas for shorter wavelengths the curve depends upon thevalue of the Rcluster (total-to-selective absorption in thecluster region). The value of Rcluster in the case of NGC654, NGC 869 and NGC 884 is found to be normal, whereas the value ofRcluster in the cluster regions NGC 1502 and IC 1805indicates an anomalous reddening law in these regions. In the case ofNGC 1502 the value of Rcluster is found to be lower(2.57+/-0.27) whereas in the case of IC 1805 it is higher (3.56+/-0.29)than the normal value of 3.1. Although the intra-cluster materialindicates a higher value of Rcluster in the NGC 663 region,the error in the estimation of Rcluster is too large toconclude anything. It is also found that the extinction process in the Uband in the case of NGC 663 seems to be less efficient, whereas in thecase of NGC 869 the process is more efficient.
| Morphological analysis of open clusters' propertiesII. Relationships projected onto the galactic plane
A morphological analysis study of open clusters' properties has beenachieved for a sample of 160 UBVCCD open star clusters of approximately128,000 stars near the galactic plane. The data was obtained and reducedfrom using the same reduction procedures, which makes this catalogue thelargest homogeneous source of open clusters' parameters.
| Integrated photometric characteristics of galactic open star clusters
Integrated UBVRI photometric parameters of 140 galactic open clustershave been computed. Integrated I(V-R)0 and I(V-I)0colours as well as integrated parameters for 71 star clusters have beenobtained for the first time. These, in combination with published data,altogether 352 objects, are used to study the integrated photometriccharacteristics of the galactic open clusters. The I(MV)values range from -9.0 to -1.0 mag corresponding to a range in totalmass of the star clusters from ~ 25 to 4*E4 Msun.The integrated colours have a relatively narrow range, e.g., I(B-V){_0}varies from -0.4 to 1.2 mag. The scatter in integrated colours at agiven integrated magnitude can be understood in terms of differences infraction of red giants/supergiants in the clusters. The observedintegrated magnitudes and colours agree with the synthetic ones, exceptthe dependences of I(V-R)0 and I(V-I)0 colours forclusters younger than ~ 100 Myrs and also of the integrated magnitudesof oldest clusters. The large sample provides the most accurate agedependence of integrated magnitudes and colours determined so far. Theluminosity function of the I(MV) has a peak around -3.5 magand its slope indicates that only ~ 1% of the open clusters in thegalactic disc are brighter than I(MV)=-11 mag. No variationhas been found of integrated magnitude with galactocentric distance andmetallicity.
| The blue to red supergiant ratio in young clusters at various metallicities
We present new determinations of the blue to red supergiant ratio (B/R)in young open clusters at various metallicities. For this purpose, weexamine the HR diagrams of 45 clusters in the Galaxy and of 4 clustersin the Magellanic Clouds. The identification of supergiants is based onspectroscopic measurements (with photometric counts to check theresults). The new counts confirm the increase of the B/R ratio when themetallicity increases with the following normalized relation:(B/R)/((B/R)sun) =~ 0.05* e3(Z)/(Zsun)}, where Zsun=0.02 and(B/R)sun is the value of B/R at Zsun which dependson the definition of B and R and on the age interval considered (e.g.for spectroscopic counts including clusters with log age between 6.8 and7.5, (B/R)sun =~ 3 when B includes O, B and A supergiants).
| Variable Stars in the Field of Young Open Cluster NGC 581
We present results of the search for variable stars in the field ofyoung open cluster NGC 581. Based on 19 nights of observations, 6 newvariable stars were discovered. Two of them turned out to be eclipsingbinary systems. Another two detected variable stars are most probably ofgamma Dor type. During our observations one of the known Be starslocated in our field of view showed irregular variations of brightness,typical for this class of stars. The sixth variable star is a pulsatingred giant.
| A study of spatial structure of galactic open star clusters
In order to study the relation between the core and corona in galacticstar clusters, the spatial structure of 38 rich open star clusters hasbeen studied using radial density profiles derived from the photometricdata of the Digital Sky Survey. The shape of the radial density profileindicates that the corona, most probably, is the outer region around thecluster. It can exist from the very beginning of the cluster formationand dynamical evolution is not the reason for its occurrence. The studydoes not find any relation between cluster size and age but indicatesthat the clusters with galacto-centric distances >9.5 kpc have largersizes. Further, we find that the average value of the core radius is1.3+/- 0.7 pc and that of annular width of the corona is 5.6+/- 1.9 pc,while average values of densities of cluster members in the core andcorona are 15.4+/- 9.9 star/pc2 and 1.6+/- 0.99star/pc2 respectively. Average field star contaminations inthe core and corona are ~ 35% and 80% respectively. In spite of smallerdensities in the coronal region, it contains ~ 75% of the clustermembers due to its larger area in comparison to the core region. Thisclearly demonstrates the importance of the coronal region in studiesdealing with the entire stellar contents of open star clusters as wellas their dynamical evolution. In contrast to the cluster cores, thestructure of coronal regions differs significantly from one cluster toother.
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