Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy

Details Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy

2009-11-09

arxiv.org/abs/0911.1459v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Galaxy Astrophysics

11 pages, 3 figures, to appear in proc. IAUS 266 "Star clusters: basic galactic building blocks "(eds. R. de Grijs, J. R. D. L

Scientific paper

Almost 80 years have passed since Trumpler's analysis of the Galactic open cluster system laid one of the main foundations for understanding the nature and structure of the Milky Way. Since then, the open cluster system has been recognised as a key source of information for addressing a wide range of questions about the structure and evolution of our Galaxy. Over the last decade, surveys and individual observations from the ground and space have led to an explosion of astrometric, kinematic and multiwavelength photometric and spectroscopic open cluster data. In addition, a growing fraction of these data is often time-resolved. Together with increasing computing power and developments in classification techniques, the open cluster system reveals an increasingly clearer and more complete picture of our Galaxy. In this contribution, I review the observational properties of the Milky Way's open cluster system. I discuss what they can and cannot teach us now and in the near future about several topics such as the Galaxy's spiral structure and dynamics, chemical evolution, large-scale star formation, stellar populations and more.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Observational properties of the open cluster system of the Milky Way and what they tell us about our Galaxy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-659568