A study conducted by astronomers from the University of Istanbul, using data from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia satellite, has provided new insights into the open cluster NGC 2509, revealing information about its structural and astrophysical parameters.

Open clusters are groups of stars that are loosely gravitationally bound together and form from the same giant molecular cloud. NGC 2509, located in the constellation Puppis, is a middle-aged open cluster that has been poorly studied, with many of its properties still uncertain.

To investigate NGC 2509, astronomers analyzed astrometric and photometric data from Gaia Data Release 3. They separated the cluster members from field stars and determined more precise fundamental parameters of NGC 2509.

The study found that NGC 2509 has an average proper motion of -2.72 and 0.8 mas/year in right ascension and declination, respectively. Its estimated distance is approximately 8,200 light-years, and its age is likely around 1.5 billion years. The cluster’s limiting radius is about 16.7 light-years, and its reddening is 0.1 mag. The metallicity of NGC 2509 is estimated to be 0.0152 dex, and its central stellar density is approximately 32.33 stars/arcmin².

Expanding the list of known galactic open clusters and studying them in detail is crucial for improving our understanding of the formation and evolution of our galaxy. This study contributes to the knowledge of NGC 2509 and provides valuable information about its properties. Continued research and study of open clusters will continue to reveal more about the complex nature of our universe.

Sources:
– T. Yontan et al, Astrophysical Parameters of the Open Cluster NGC 2509, arXiv (2023).
– Turkish astronomers investigate open cluster NGC 2509 (2023, September 19) retrieved on September 19, 2023 from [source]