The Unified Cluster Catalogue: towards a comprehensive and homogeneous data base of stellar clusters
Abstract
We introduce the Unified Cluster Catalogue, the largest catalogue of stellar clusters currently listing nearly 14 000 objects. In this initial release, it exclusively contains Milky Way open clusters, with plans to include other objects in future updates. Each cluster is processed using a novel probability membership algorithm, which incorporates the coordinates, parallax, proper motions, and their associated uncertainties for each star into the probability assignment process. We employ Gaia Data Release 3 (DR3) up to a G magnitude of 20, resulting in the identification of over a million probable members. The catalogue is accompanied by a publicly accessible website designed to simplify the search and data exploration of stellar clusters. The website can be accessed at https://ucc.ar.
- Publication:
-
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Pub Date:
- December 2023
- DOI:
- 10.1093/mnras/stad2826
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2308.04546
- Bibcode:
- 2023MNRAS.526.4107P
- Keywords:
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- methods: data analysis;
- catalogues;
- open clusters and associations: general;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies