WIYN Open Cluster Study Photometry: The Next Generation

作为WIYN开放星团研究（WOCS）的一部分，这里将进行的研究是先前NSF支持的开放星团光度测定项目的延伸和扩展。总的来说，WOCS的目标是建立一个高质量的开放星团天体测量学、光度学和光谱学数据库，这些数据库反过来可以应用于研究一系列天体物理问题。例子包括初始质量函数的形状及其普适性、恒星核心对流超调的程度、精确星团年龄的测定、银河系中金属丰度梯度以及河外距离尺度。除了继续使用wyn 3.5和0.9米望远镜以获得精确的光度测量以支持WOCS之外，还将开展其他活动以扩展WOCS的光度测量部分。首先，在与康塞普西翁大学的智利天文学家Doug Geisler博士的合作下，成像/光度测量将扩展到银河系第三和第四象限的南半球疏散星团样本。其次，将获得WOCS星团的近红外光度，以便开发具有尽可能大的颜色基线的颜色-星等图。第三，WOCS星团将使用佛罗里达大学的罗斯玛丽山天文台来观测变星。由此产生的光度数据库将免费提供给社会。这项工作还将有助于建立美国和智利大学之间的国际合作。其中包括一个教育部分，对本科生和研究生进行观察和数据简化方面的培训。此外，变星调查将主要由高中生使用罗斯玛丽山天文台30英寸望远镜上的CCD成像系统进行（从而加强当地的研究、教育和培训基础设施）。

The research to be carried out here is an extension and expansion of a previously NSF supported program of open cluster photometry as part of the WIYN Open Cluster Study (WOCS). The goals of the WOCS in general are to create a database of high quality open cluster astrometry, photometry, and spectroscopy which in turn can be applied to investigate a range of astrophysical questions. Examples include the shape of the initial mass function and its universality, the extent of convective overshoot in stellar cores, the determination of precise cluster ages, the metallicity gradient in the Galaxy, and the extragalactic distance scale. In addition to continued use of the WIYN 3.5 and 0.9-meter telescopes to obtain precision photometry in support of WOCS, additional activities will be undertaken to extend the photometric component of WOCS. First, in collaboration with Chilean astronomer Dr. Doug Geisler at the Universidad de Concepcion, imaging/photometry will be extended to a sample of southern hemisphere open clusters in the 3rd and 4th Galactic quadrants. Second, near-infrared photometry will be obtained of WOCS clusters in order to develop color-magnitude diagrams with the largest color baseline possible. Third, WOCS clusters will be surveyed for variable stars using the University of Florida's Rosemary Hill Observatory. The resulting photometric database will be made freely available to the community. The work will also help establish an international collaboration between a US and Chilean university. An educational component is included in which undergraduate and graduate students will be trained in observing and data reduction. Moreover, the variable star survey will be carried out in large part by high school students using a CCD imaging system on the 30-inch telescope at the Rosemary Hill Observatory (thereby enhancing the local infrastructure for research, education, and training).