Star Clusters in M31: I. A Catalog and a Study of the Young Clusters

TL;DR

This study presents an updated catalog of 1300 objects in M31, focusing on 670 star clusters, with detailed analysis of 140 young clusters revealing their ages, masses, and spatial distribution, highlighting their relation to star formation regions.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive catalog and detailed spectral analysis of young clusters in M31, including their ages, masses, and spatial distribution, which was not previously available.

Findings

Young clusters have masses up to 10^5 M_sun and median age of 0.25 Gyr.

Most young clusters are low-concentration, similar to Milky Way open clusters.

Spatial distribution correlates with star-forming regions and young disk in M31.

Abstract

We present an updated catalog of 1300 objects in the field of M31, including 670 likely star clusters of various types. Archival images were inspected to confirm cluster classifications where possible, but most of the classifications were based on spectra taken of ~1000 objects with the Hectospec fiber positioner and spectrograph on the 6.5m MMT. The spectra and images of young clusters are analyzed in detail in this paper. Ages, reddenings and masses of 140 young clusters are derived by comparing the observed spectra and photometry with model spectra. We find these to have masses as great as 10^5 with a median of 10^4 M_sun, and a median age of 0.25 Gyr. Thus these clusters are similar in mass to the LMC young massive clusters, and are in between Milky Way open clusters and the globulars of M31 and the Milky Way. Most of the M31 young clusters have the low concentration typical of Milky Way open clusters, and we expect that most of these will be disrupted in the next Gyr, but a few have high concentrations and will likely survive longer. The spatial distribution of the young clusters is well correlated with the star-forming regions as mapped out by mid-IR emission. A kinematic analysis likewise confirms the spatial association of the young clusters with the young disk in M31.