A New Look at the Old Star Cluster NGC 6791

Authors :: Platais, I.
Cudworth, K. M.
Kozhurina-Platais, V.
McLaughlin, D. E.
Meibom, S.
Veillet, C.
Source :: ApJ Letters, 733, L1, 2011 May 20
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: We present comprehensive cluster membership and g'r' photometry of the prototypical old, metal-rich Galactic star cluster NGC 6791. The proper-motion catalog contains 58,901 objects down to g'=24, limited to a circular area of radius 30 arcmin. The highest precision of the proper motions is 0.08 mas/yr. Our proper motions confirm cluster membership of all main and also some rare constituents of NGC 6791. The total number of probable cluster members down to g'=22 (M_V=+8) is 4800, corresponding to M_tot=5000 M_solar. New findings include an extended horizontal branch in this cluster. The angular radius of NGC 6791 is at least 15 arcmin (the effective radius is R_h=4.4 arcmin while the tidal radius is r_t=23 arcmin). The luminosity function of the cluster peaks at M_g'=+4.5 and then steadily declines toward fainter magnitudes. Our data provide evidence that differential reddening may not be ignored in NGC 6791.<br />Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, published in ApJL