FSR0190 - Another old distant galactic cluster

TL;DR

This study presents near-infrared observations of the old galactic cluster FSR0190, revealing its age, distance, mass, and characteristics similar to Palomar-type globular clusters, contributing to the classification of Milky Way star clusters.

Contribution

First detailed characterization of FSR0190 using NIR data, establishing it as an old, massive globular cluster candidate near the Galactic Plane.

Findings

Age over 7 billion years

Galactocentric distance of 10.5 kpc

Mass approximately 10^5 solar masses

Abstract

We are conducting a large program to classify newly discovered Milky Way star cluster candidates from Froebrich et al. (2007). Here we present NIR follow-up observations of FSR0190 (RA=20h05m31.3s, DEC=33deg34'09" J2000). The cluster is situated close to the Galactic Plane (l=70.7302deg, b=+0.9498deg). It shows a circular shape, a relatively large number of core helium burning stars -- which clearly distinguishes the cluster from the rich field -- but no centrally condensed star density profile. We derive an age of more than 7Gyr, a Galactocentric distance of 10.5kpc, a distance of 10kpc from the Sun, and an extinction of A_K=0.8mag. The estimated mass is at least of the order of 1E5M_sun, and the absolute brightness is M_V<=-4.7mag; both are rather typical properties for Palomar-type globular clusters.