The stellar population of the star forming region G61.48+0.09

TL;DR

This study characterizes the stellar content, distance, extinction, age, and mass of the star forming region G61.48+0.09 using near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, revealing a young cluster with diverse stellar types.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed spectroscopic analysis of G61.48+0.09, determining its stellar composition, distance, extinction, and age, and highlights the cluster's properties and limitations in mass estimation.

Findings

Cluster is at 2.5±0.4 kpc distance.

Extinction varies from A_Ks=0.9 to 2.6.

Cluster is younger than 10 Myr with a minimum mass of 1500±500 solar masses.

Abstract

- Context: We present the results of a near-infrared photometric and spectroscopic study of the star forming region G61.48+0.09. - Aims: The purpose of this study is to characterize the stellar content of the cluster and to determine its distance, extinction, age and mass. - Methods: The stellar population was studied by using color-magnitude diagrams to select twenty promising cluster members, for which follow up spectroscopy was done. The observed spectra allowed a spectral classification of the stars. - Results: Two stars have emission lines, twelve are G-type stars, and six are late-O or early-B stars. - Conclusions: The cluster's extinction varies from A_{K_S} = 0.9 to A_{K_S} = 2.6, (or A_{V}~8 to A_{V}~23). G61.48+0.09 is a star forming region located at 2.5+/-0.4 Kpc. The cluster is younger than 10 Myr and has a minimum stellar mass of 1500+/-500 Solar masses. However, the actual total mass of the cluster remains undetermined, as we cannot see its whole stellar content.