The young open cluster Trumpler 15 in the Eta Carinae complex

Citations Over Time

Abstract

The compact open cluster Trumpler 15, which is located near the complex of young clusters in the vicinity of Eta Carinae which are associated with the extensive emission nebula NGC 3372, is investigated in order to determine its complex membership. Photoelectric UBVRI photometry and slit spectra reveal Tr 15 to be a young open cluster (age 6 plus or minus 3 million years) at a distance (2.6 kpc) and mean color excess (0.48) suggesting its membership in the Eta Carinae complex. Possible members of the cluster include the M supergiant RT Car, a highly reddened O 9.5 bright giant star and a highly reddened late B supergiant. It is pointed out that the membership of Tr 15 in the Eta Carinae complex makes that complex one of the largest known complexes containing very young clusters, stars, gas and dust, with a diameter on the order of 30 pc.

Related Papers

• → Study of the nearest open clusters and the associated moving clusters by numerical simulations(2006)18 cited
• → Dynamics of Open Star Clusters(1985)38 cited
• → Dynamics of Open Star Clusters(1985)13 cited
• → The Mass Frequency-Function in Open Clusters(1957)10 cited
• → Embedded and open star clusters: basic questions(2009)1 cited