Dissolving star cluster candidates

• Autor(a) principal: Bica, Eduardo Luiz Damiani
• Data de Publicação: 2001
• Outros Autores: Santiago, Basilio Xavier, Dutra, Carlos Maximiliano, Dottori, Horacio Alberto, Oliveira, Marcio Ramos de, Pavani, Daniela Borges
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFRGS
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10183/98507
• topic: Associações de estrelas; Aglomerados estelares; Galaxy: open clusters and associations: general

We present a list of 34 neglected entries from star cluster catalogues located at relatively high galactic latitudes (|b| > 15º) which appear to be candidate late stages of star cluster dynamical evolution. Although underpopulated with respect to usual open clusters, they still present a high number density contrast as compared to the galactic field. This was verified by means of (i) predicted model counts from different galactic subsystems in the same direction, and (ii) Guide Star Catalog equal solid angle counts for the object and surrounding fields. This suggests that the objects are physical systems, possibly star clusters in the process of disruption or their fossil remains. The sample will be useful for followup studies in view of verifying their physical nature.