Improved proper motion determinations for 15 open clusters based on the UCAC4 catalog

The proper motions of 15 nearby(d 1 kpc) open clusters(OCs) were recalculated using data from the UCAC4 catalog. Only evolved or main sequence stars inside a certain radius from the center of the cluster were used. The results significantly differ from the ones presented by Dias et al.(2014). This could be explained by a different approach in which we take the field star contamination into account. The present work aims to emphasize the importance of applying photometric criteria for the calculation of OC proper motions.     

The OPD photometric survey of open clusters II. robust determination of the fundamental parameters of 24 open clusters

In the second paper of the series we continue the investigation of open cluster fundamental parameters using a robust global optimization method to fit model isochrones to photometric data. We present optical UBVRI CCD photometry (Johnsons-Cousins system) observations for 24 neglected open clusters, of which 14 have high quality data in the visible obtained for the first time, as a part of our ongoing survey being carried out in the 0.6 m telescope of the Pico dos Dias Observatory in Brazil. All objects were then analyzed with a global optimization tool developed by our group which estimates the membership likelihood of the observed stars and fits an isochrone from which a distance, age, reddening, total to selective extinction ratio R_V (included in this work as a new free parameter) and metallicity are estimated. Based on those estimates and their associated errors we analyzed the status of each object as real clusters or not, finding that two are likely to be asterisms. We also identify important discrepancies between our results and previous ones obtained in the literature which were determined using 2MASS photometry.     

An investigation of 11 previously unstudied open star clusters

The main astrophysical properties of 11 previously unstudied open star clusters are probed with JHK Near-IR (2MASS) photometry of Cutri et al. [Cutri, R., et al., 2003. The IRSA 2MASS All-sky Point Source Catolog, NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive] and proper motions (NOMAD) astrometry of Zacharias et al. [Zacharias, N., Monet, D., Levine, S., Urban, S., Gaume, R., Wycoff, G., 2004. American Astro. Soc. Meeting 36, 1418]. The fundamental parameters have been derived for IC (1434, 2156); King (17, 18, 20, 23, 26); and Dias (2, 3, 4, 7, 8), for which no prior parameters are available in the literature. The clusters’ centers coordinates and angular diameters are re-determined, while ages, distances, and color excesses for these clusters are estimated here for the first time.     

Updated version of the ‘homogeneous catalog of open cluster parameters’

We report a new version of the “Homogeneous catalog of open cluster parameters” maintained by our team over the last decades. The catalog is based on redetermination of the main parameters of clusters (color excesses, heliocentric distances, and ages) based on published photometric measurements, in particular, those provided by the 2MASS point-source catalog. Currently, our catalog provides the parameters for 959 clusters. It also gives the estimates of cluster radial velocities for 496 clusters partly based on the data fromRAVE catalog. Estimates of proper-motion components are provided for all clusters included into the catalog. We analyze the distributions of the errors of the main cluster parameters and compare the distribution of cluster positions projected onto the Galactic plane with the distribution of cosmic masers thereby validating the distance scale of open clusters.     

New open cluster candidates discovered in the XSTPS-GAC survey

The Xuyi Schmidt Telescope Photometric Survey of the Galactic Anti-center(XSTPS-GAC)is a photometric sky survey that covers nearly 6000 deg~2 towards the Galactic Anti-center(GAC) in the g,r,i bands. Half of its survey field is located on the Galactic Anti-center disk,which makes XSTPSGAC highly suitable to search for new open clusters in the GAC region. In this paper,we report new open cluster candidates discovered in this survey,as well as properties of these open cluster candidates,such as age,distance and reddening,derived by isochrone fitting in the color-magnitude diagram(CMD).These open cluster candidates are stellar density peaks detected in the star density maps by applying the method from Koposov et al. Each candidate is inspected in terms of its true color image composed from three XSTPS-GAC band images. Then its CMD is checked,in order to identify whether the central region stars have a clear isochrone-like trend differing from background stars. The parameters derived from isochrone fitting for these candidates are mainly based on three band photometry of XSTPS-GAC.Moreover,when these new candidates are able to be seen clearly in 2 MASS data,their parameters are also derived based on the 2 MASS(J-H,J) CMD. There are a total of 320 known open clusters rediscovered and 24 new open cluster candidates discovered in this work. Furthermore,the parameters of these new candidates,as well as another 11 previously known open clusters,are properly determined for the first time.     

The determination of a complete sample of open clusters to compare with star clusters in other galaxies

In order to compare star cluster systems in galaxies, and consequently to obtain information on their different modalities of birth and evolution, a homogeneous and complete sample of galactic open clusters is obtained from Lynga's (1983)Catalogue of Open Clusters. This sample consists of 94 open clusters whose projected (onto the galactic plane) distance from the Sun and whose absoluteV-magnitude are smaller than 2 kpc and –4.5 mag, respectively. The completeness of the sample is based only on the usual hypothesis of a uniform projected distribution of the clusters in the solar neighbourhood. Some results concerning the distribution of relevant photometric and structural parameters are presented and discussed.     

A polarimetric study of the B[e] star HD 45677

We aim to characterize the current status of knowledge on the accuracy of open-cluster parameters such as the age, reddening and distance. These astrophysical quantities are often used to study the global characteristics of the Milky Way down to the very local stellar phenomena. In general, the errors of these quantities are neglected or set to some kind of heuristic standard value. We attempt to give some realistic estimates for the accuracy of available cluster parameters by using the independently derived values published in the literature. In total, 6437 individual estimates for 395 open clusters were used in our statistical analysis. We discuss the error sources depending on theoretical as well as observational methods and compare our results with those parameters listed in the widely used catalogue by Dias et al. In addition, we establish a list of 72 open clusters with the most accurate known parameters which should serve as a standard table in the future for testing isochrones and stellar models.     

Integrated spectral properties of four previously unstudied small angular size galactic open clusters

We have derived fundamental parameters for the previously unstudied concentrated Galactic open clusters Berkeley 77, NGC2587, BH58 and ESO324‐SC15 by means of integrated spectroscopy in the range 3800–6800 Å. The cluster integrated spectra are compared with those of solar metallicity template spectra of Galactic open clusters with known parameters. The spectra were obtained at CASLEO (San Juan, Argentina) with a resolution of 14 Å.We estimated simultaneously age and foreground interstellar reddening by comparing the continuum distribution and line strengths of the cluster spectra with those of template spectra. Berkeley 77 was found to be an old cluster of 3–4 Gyr, while the remaining three clusters are between 400 and 1000 Myr old. The derived foreground reddening values range from E (B – V) = 0.0 in NGC2587 and ESO324‐SC15 to approximately 0.30 in Berkeley 77. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A search for brown dwarfs in Collinder 70 and Collinder 121

We present a study of the brown dwarf population in Collinder 70 and 121 open star clusters. Using photometric data from several catalogues we select several candidates in both clusters. We cover a circular area of radius equal to 1 degree around the cluster centers. We found candidates with photometry compatible with theoretical evolutionary models for the age and distance of these clusters. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On open cluster physical parameters from 2MASS data

The near infrared range has opened a new window to study stellar populations in the Galaxy, in the Local Groud and beyond. Despite the large and growing use of these data, insufficient efforts have been made in the direction to calibrate stellar physical parameters such as age, reddening and distance. This can also be achieved using near infrared and optical data together. Furthermore, the huge amounts of photometric data available now and in the incoming years, demand the development of automated and statistical isochrone fittings to cope with such data. With this in mind, we analyse 2MASS data in order to determine physical parameters for a sample of 9 open clusters. As a first step, we determined the age, reddening and distance values for each cluster applying the classical isochrone fitting (by eye). Subsequently, we employed an automated procedure which compares synthetic colour-magnitude diagrams to observed ones, making use of the likelihood statistics to find the best solution. We also carried out structural analyses of the clusters using stellar radial density profiles. Both classical and statistical isochrone fittings revealed that there can be disagreement between physical parameters obtained from near infrared data analysis and the literature corresponding ones, most based on optical and UV data. Concerning the observed cluster structures, they were studied for the first time. We found evidence of various dynamical stages in the sample.     

The fundamental parameters of 60 unstudied open star clusters (Czernik,Dol-Dzim,Kronberger, and Turner)

The fundamental parameters of 60 previously unstudied open clusters of Czernik, Dol-Dzim, Kronberger, and Turner were derived with color-magnitude diagrams of JHK _s Near-IR 2MASS photometry. These clusters have never been studied before, and we provide, for the first time, the cluster parameters; the angular diameter, distance, reddening, age, and metallicity. The 2MASS catalog has the advantages of being homogeneous database, enabling us to observing the young clusters in their dusty environments and reaching their outer regions where the low mass stars dominate.     

First Results from ROTES: The ROtse Telescope Eclipsing-binary Survey

Detached eclipsing binaries (EBs) provide a unique opportunity to carry out stringent tests on stellar evolution models. The value of EBs is enhanced by their membership in open clusters, but the number of known systems is still very scarce. We have started a systematic search for late-type EBs in the nearest open clusters with the fully robotic ROTSE3b telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. On our first campaigns on the Hyades and Collinder 359, we have identified a number of previously unknown eclipsing binary candidates. Some of these stars have been selected for spectroscopic and photometric follow-up. Here we present details of the observing and reduction strategy as well as the first results of this ongoing survey.     

老年疏散星团的金属丰度及银盘金属丰度梯度演化研究

疏散星团是探究银河系结构与演化的良好示踪体,一直以来颇受关注.之前关于疏散星团的研究中,仅有一小部分疏散星团有金属丰度参数,而且,金属丰度的测量,是基于不同质量的观测数据,采用了不同的方法.收集了一个年龄大于2 Gyr的老年疏散星团样本,通过整理这些星团成员星的金属丰度数据,一方面,以星团NGC 2682为例,对比了不同光谱巡天项目给出的星团成员星金属丰度的系统差异;另一方面,计算了星团成员星金属丰度的平均值和中位值,作为该疏散星团的金属丰度推荐值.此外,还利用该样本探究了银盘径向金属丰度梯度随时间的演化,结果表明,早期银盘有着更加陡峭的径向金属丰度梯度,随着演化时间的增加,银盘径向金属丰度梯度逐渐趋于平缓,为银盘化学演化模型提供了更加严格的观测约束.     

A Reinvestigation of the Physical Properties of Pismis 3 based on 2MASS Photometry

As a continuation of a series of work, we aim to refine and re-determine the physical parameters of previously rarely or un-studied open star clusters with good quality CMDs using Near-IR JHK photometry. Here we present a morphological analysis of the 2MASS database (the digital "Two Micron All Sky Survey") for the open cluster Pismis 3. Some of the physical parameters are estimated for the first time, and some others, re-determined.     

Two MASS photometry of open star clusters: King 13 and Berkeley 53

In the present work, we used the near-infrared JHK_s photometric data from the 2-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) to determine the morphological and photometric parameters for two rarely studied open star clusters; King 13 and Berkeley 53. Luminosity function, mass function and dynamical relaxation time have been determined for the two clusters. We estimated the distances of 2.11±0.25 Kpc and 3.51±0.21 Kpc for King 13 and Berkeley 53 respectively, and both clusters have the same age 1.00±0.12 Gyr at solar metallicity; z=0.019.     

A search for variable stars in the open clusters NGC7209, NGC1582 and Dolidze 18

CCD time-series photometric observations are presented for the stars in the fields of the open clusters NGC7209, NGC1582 and Dolidze 18 in Johnson V, together with some photometric observations in R, and B. The results reveal 14 variable stars in the three clusters in total, among which 13 are newly-discovered variables. With color–magnitude diagrams and color–color diagram, memberships of the variable stars are estimated. With the derived light curves, scales of time and amplitude of variability of these variable stars are obtained. Together with the spectral types due to the estimation of color temperatures, possible types of the variable stars are preliminarily discussed.     

A Catalogue of previously unstudied Berkeley clusters

The main astrophysical parameters of 24 previously unstudied open clusters of Berkeley catalogue are presented here. JHK near-infrared (Two Micron All Sky Survey) photometry and the proper motions astrometry of Naval Observatory Merged Astrometric Dataset (NOMAD) are used. The clusters' centres, angular diameters, ages, distances and colour excesses for these clusters are estimated for the first time.     

PPMXL photometric analysis of three open cluster candidates

We present here the astrophysical parameters of three stellar open cluster candidates using PPMXL (<http://vizer.cfa.harvard.edu/viz-bin/VizieR?-source=I/317>) database. In this study, the main photometric, astrometry and statistical parameters of Ruprecht 13, Ruprecht 16 and Ruprecht 24 are estimated for the first time.     

Photometric membership and metallicities of red giant candidates in selected open clusters

As part of a long‐term project to determine abundances and astrophysical properties of evolved red stars in open clusters, we present high‐precision DDO photoelectric observations for a sample of 33 red giant candidates projected in the fields of nine Galactic open clusters. These data are supplemented with UBV photoelectric photometry of 24 of these stars as well as with CORAVEL radial‐velocity observations for 13 red giant candidates in four of the clusters. We also present Washington photoelectric photometry of a small sample of red giant candidates of the open cluster Ruprecht 97. The likelihood of cluster membership for each star photometrically observed and for 23 additional red giant candidates with UBV and DDO data available in the literature, is evaluated by using two independent photometric criteria. Nearly 82% of the analysed stars are found to have a high probability of being cluster giants. Photometric membership probabilities show very good agreement with those obtained from CORAVEL radial velocities. While E (B –V) colour excesses were determined from combined B – V and DDO colours, calibrations of the DDO system were used to derive MK spectral types, effective temperatures and metallicities. The derived DDO metallicities range between values typical of moderately metal‐poor clusters ([Fe/H] = –0.19) to moderately metal‐rich ([Fe/H] = 0.25) ones. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The open cluster Berkeley 53

We present a photometric study of the neglected open cluster Berkeley 53. We derived its fundamental parameters, such as the age, the interstellar reddening, and the distance from the Sun, based on BV photometry combined with near‐infrared JHK_S data. The structure and the mass function of the cluster were also studied and the total number of members and the total mass were estimated. The cluster was found to be a rich and massive stellar system, located in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, 3.1 ± 0.1 kpc from the Sun. Its age exceeds 1 Gy but it seems tobe very young in the context of its dynamical evolution. The analysis of the two‐color diagrams and color‐magnitude diagrams indicates that the cluster is significantly reddened. However, both methods resulted in different values of E (B – V), i.e. 1.21 ± 0.04 and 1.52 ± 0.01, respectively. This discrepancy suggests the presence of an abnormal interstellar extinction law toward the cluster (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)