A. E. Piskunov

Astrophysical parameters of galactic open clusters

We present a catalogue of astrophysical data for 520 Galactic open clusters. These are the clusters for which at least three most probable members (18 on average) could be identified in the ASCC-2.5, a catalogue of stars based on the Tycho-2 observations from the Hipparcos mission. We applied homogeneous methods and algorithms to determine angular sizes of cluster cores and coronae, heliocentric distances, mean proper motions, mean radial velocities, and ages. For the first time we derive distances for 200 clusters, radial velocities for 94 clusters, and ages of 196 clusters. This homogeneous new parameter set is compared with earlier determinations, where we find, in particular, that the angular sizes were systematically underestimated in the literature.

Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way - II. The catalogue of basic parameters

Context. Although they are the main constituents of the Galactic disk population, for half of the open clusters in the Milky Way reported in the literature nothing is known except the raw position and an approximate size. Aims. The main goal of this study is to determine a full set of uniform spatial, structural, kinematic, and astrophysical param eters for as many known open clusters as possible. Methods. On the basis of stellar data from PPMXL and 2MASS, we used a dedicated data-processing pipeline to determine kinematic and photometric membership probabilities for stars in a cluster region. Results. For an input list of 3784 targets from the literature, we confi rm that 3006 are real objects, the vast majority of them are open clusters, but associations and globular clusters are also p resent. For each confirmed object we determined the exact pos ition of the cluster centre, the apparent size, proper motion, distance , colour excess, and age. For about 1500 clusters, these basic astrophysical parameters have been determined for the first time. For the bu lk of the clusters we also derived the tidal radius. We estimated additionally average radial velocities for more than 30% of the confirmed clusters. The present sample (called MWSC) reaches both the central parts of the Milky Way and its outer regions. It is almost complete up to 1.8 kpc from the Sun and also covers neighbouring spiral arms. However, for a small subset of the oldest open clusters (log t & 9) we found some evidence of incompleteness within about 1 kpc from the Sun.

109 new Galactic open clusters

We present a list of 130 Galactic Open Clusters, found in the All-Sky Compiled Catalogue of 2.5 Million Stars (ASCC-2.5). For these clusters we determined a homogeneous set of astrophysical parameters such as size, membership, motion, distance and age. In a previous work, 520 already-known open clusters out of a sample of 1700 clusters from the literature were confirmed in the ASCC-2.5 using independent, objective methods. Using these methods the whole sky was systematically screened for new clusters. The newly detected clusters show the same distribution over the sky as the known ones. It is found that without the a priori knowledge about existing clusters our search lead to clusters which are, on average, brighter, have more members and cover larger angular radii than the 520 previously-known ones.

Tidal radii and masses of open clusters

Context. In a previous paper we obtained King’s parameters for 236 of 650 Galactic open clusters identified in the ASCC-2.5. Aims. Estimating tidal radii by use of observable parameters available for all clusters. Bias-free results are required. Methods. We use methods of stellar statistics and develop a semi-empirical model of open clusters. Results. We check two effects impacting the determination of tidal radii from a fitting of King’s profiles to the observed density distribution, i.e., ellipticity of open clusters and a bias depending on distances. Though a typical cluster has an elliptical form, the effect is rather weak to produce a prominent bias in the resulting tidal radii. In contrast, a distance dependent bias is not negligible and can cause a systematic underestimation of tidal radii computed with ASCC-2.5 data by a factor of two for the most distant clusters of our sample. This finding is used to correct the original results for 236 clusters and to extend the system of tidal radii and masses to all 650 clusters. We found that the semi-major axis of the projected distribution of cluster members on the sky is a parameter suited to estimate tidal radii of open clusters of our sample. No systematic differences are found between measured and calibrated tidal radii. From the comparison with mass estimates based on star counts and on the assumption of the Salpeter IMF, empirical evidence is obtained for an evolution of cluster mass functions starting in young clusters. Conclusions. The set of homogeneous parameters available for all clusters of our sample is extended by tidal radius and mass. Within 850 pc where our sample is complete, the distributions of tidal radii and masses peak at rt ≈ 6p c and logMc/m� ≈ 2.5, respectively. In young open clusters, the mass distributions show differences to the Salpeter IMF, and this discrepancy increases with cluster age.

Towards absolute scales for the radii and masses of open clusters

Aims. In this paper we derive tidal radii and masses of open clusters in the nearest kiloparsecs around the Sun. Methods. For each cluster, the mass is estimated from tidal radii determined from a fitting of three-parameter King profiles to the observed integrated density distribution. Different samples of members are investigated. Results. For 236 open clusters, all contained in the catalogue ASCC-2.5, we obtain core and tidal radii, as well as tidal masses. The distributions of 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 between 15% and 50%, whereas, for the majority of clusters, the tidal radius was determined with a relative accuracy better than 20%. Most of the clusters have tidal masses between 50 and 1000 m� , and for about half of the clusters, the masses were obtained with a relative error better than 50%.

The initial luminosity and mass functions of the Galactic open clusters

We aim at the construction of luminosity and mass functions for Galactic open clusters, based on integrated magnitudes and tidal masses. We also aim at studying the evolution of these functions, with the ultimate purpose of deriving the initial luminosity and mass distributions of star clusters, independent of model assumptions regarding the cluster mass-to-light ratio. Finally we aim at a new determination of the percentage of field stars that have originated in open clusters. The integrated magnitudes are computed from individual photometry of cluster members selected from the ASCC-2.5 catalogue. The cluster masses we assumed to be the estimated tidal mass recently published by us elsewhere. Analysis of the cluster brightness distribution as a function of apparent integrated magnitudes shows that the cluster sample drawn from the ASCC-2.5 is complete down to apparent integrated magnitude IV = 8, with 440 clusters and compact associations above this completeness limit. This, on average, corresponds to a completeness area in the solar neighbourhood with an effective radius of about 1 kpc. The observed luminosity function can be constructed in a range of absolute integrated magnitudes IMV = [−10, −0.5] mag, i.e. about 5 mag deeper than in the most nearby galaxies. It increases linearly from the brightest limit to a turnover at about IMV ≈− 2.5. The slope of this linear portion is a = 0.41 ± 0.01, which agrees perfectly with the slope deduced for star cluster observations in ⎛ ⎜ �

A deep all-sky census of the Hyades

Aims. On the basis of the PPMXL catalogue we perform an all-sky census of the Hyades down to masses of about 0.2 m⊙ in a region up to 30 pc from the cluster centre. Methods. We use the proper motions from PPMXL in the convergent point method to determine probable kinematic members. From 2MASS photometry and CMC14r ′ -band photometry, we derive empirical colour-absolute magnitude diagrams and, finally, determine photometric membership for all kinematic candidates. Results. This is the first deep (r ′ ≤ 17) all-sky survey of the Hyades allowing a full three-dimensional analysis of the cluster. The survey is complete down to at least MKs = 7.3 or 0.25 m⊙. We find 724 stellar systems co-moving with the bulk Hyades sp ace velocity, which represent a total mass of 435 m⊙. The tidal radius is about 9 pc, and 275 m⊙ (364 systems) are gravitationally bound. This is the cluster proper. Its mass density profile is perfectly fitted b y a Plummer model with a central density of 2.21 m⊙pc −3 and a core radius of rco = 3.10 pc, while the half-mass radius is r h = 4.1 pc. There are another 100 m⊙ in a volume between one and two tidal radii (halo), and another 60 m⊙ up to a distance of 30 pc from the centre. Strong mass segregation is inherent in the cluster. The present-day luminosity and mass functions are noticeably different in various parts of the cluster (core, corona, halo, an d co-movers). They are strongly evolved compared to presently favoured initial mass functions. The analysis of the velocity dispersion of the cluster shows that about 20% of its members must be binaries. As a by-product, we find that presently available theoretical isochrones a re not able to adequately describe the near-infrared colour-absolute magnitude relation for those cluster stars that are less mas sive than about 0.6 m⊙.

Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way - I. The pipeline and fundamental parameters in the second quadrant

Aims. On the basis of the PPMXL star catalogue we performed a survey of star clusters in the second quadrant of the Milky Way. Methods. From the PPMXL catalogue of positions and proper motions we took the subset of stars with near-infrared photometry from 2MASS and added the remaining 2MASS stars without proper motions (called 2MAst, i.e. 2MASS with astrometry). We developed a data-processing pipeline including interactive human control of a standardised set of multi-dimensional diagrams to determine kinematic and photometric membership probabilities for stars in a cluster region. The pipeline simultaneously produced the astrophysical parameters of a cluster. From literature we compiled a target list of presently known open and globular clusters, cluster candidates, associations, and moving groups. From established member stars we derived spatial parameters (coordinates of centres and radii of the main morphological parts of clusters) and cluster kinematics (average proper motions and sometimes radial velocities). For distance, reddening, and age determination we used specific sets of theoretical isochrones. Tidal parameters were obtained by a fit of three-parameter King profiles to the observed density distributions of members. Results. We investigated all 871 objects in the 2nd Galactic quadrant, of which we successfully treated 642 open clusters, 2 globular clusters, and 8 stellar associations. The remaining 219 objects (24%) were recognised by us to be nonexistent clusters, duplicate entries, or clusters too faint for 2MAst. We found that our sample is complete in the 2nd quadrant up to a distance of 2 kpc, where the average surface density is 94 clusters per kpc 2 . Compared with literature values we found good agreement in spatial and kinematic data, as well as for optical distances and reddening. Small, but systematic offsets were detected in the age determination.

Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way - V. Integrated JHKS magnitudes and luminosity functions

Aims. In this study we determine absolute integrated magnitudes in the J,H,KS passbands for Galactic star clusters from the Milky Way Star Clusters survey. In the wide solar neighbourhood, we derive the open cluster luminosity function (CLF) for different cluster ages. Methods. The integrated magnitudes are based on uniform cluster membership derived from the 2MAst catalogue (a merger of the PPMXL and 2MASS) and are computed by summing up the individual luminosities of the most reliable cluster members. We discuss two different techniques of constructing the CLF, a magnitude-limited and a distance-limited approach. Results. Absolute J,H,KS integrated magnitudes are obtained for 3061 open clusters, and 147 globular clusters. The integrated magnitudes and colours are accurate to about 0.8 and 0.2 mag, respectively. Based on the sample of open clusters we construct the general cluster luminosity function in the solar neighbourhood in the three passbands. In each passband the CLF shows a linear part covering a range of 6 to 7 mag at the bright end. The CLFs reach their maxima at an absolute magnitude of −2 mag, then drop by one order of magnitude. During cluster evolution, the CLF changes its slope within tight, but well-defined limits. The CLF of the youngest clusters has a steep slope of about 0.4 at bright magnitudes and a quasi-flat portion for faint clusters. For the oldest population, we find a flatter function with a slope of about 0.2. The CLFs at Galactocentric radii smaller than that of the solar circle differ from those in the direction of the Galactic anti-centre. The CLF in the inner area is flatter and the cluster surface density higher than the local one. In contrast, the CLF is somewhat steeper than the local one in the outer disk, and the surface density is lower.

The evolution of luminosity, colour, and the mass-to-luminosity ratio of Galactic open clusters: Comparison of discrete vs. continuous IMF models

Context. We found in previous studies that standard simple stellar population (SSP) models are unable to describe or explain the colours of Galactic open clusters both in the visible and in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral range. The reason for this disagreement is the continuous nature of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in clusters, which is the underlying assumption in the SSP models. In reality, the Galactic open clusters are sparsely populated with the brightest stars responsible for integrated fluxes. Aims. In this study, we aim at constructing discrete SSP-models that are able to adequately describe the observed magnitude-, colour-, and mass-to-luminosity-ratio-age relations of open clusters by including a number of seldom considered effects. Methods. We construct a numerical SSP-model with an underlying Salpeter IMF, which is valid within an upper mu and lower ml