Speaker
Level for award<br> (Hons, MSc, <br> PhD)?
MSc
Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> award (Yes / No)?
Yes
Abstract content <br> (Max 300 words)<br><a href="http://events.saip.org.za/getFile.py/access?resId=0&materialId=0&confId=34" target="_blank">Formatting &<br>Special chars</a>
Determination of distances to Galactic open clusters is an important way of understanding the nature of the Galactic spiral arms. One of the difficulties involved in accurate determination of Galactic distances is the determination of reddening to the cluster of study. We have done both spectroscopic and photometric study of an open cluster called Trumpler 27 inorder to determine the reddening to the cluster and eventually find its distance from the sun. The cluster is young ~ 107 years. We have found that the cluster is ~ 3.7 kpc away from the sun. The open cluster has majorly massive stars and is located in the obscured part of our Galaxy at l~ 355.06 and b~ -0.74. At its age and the fact that it has O stars, B stars, Wolf Rayet stars and late type stars, the red supergiants makes it an interesting cluster to study.
Would you like to <br> submit a short paper <br> for the Conference <br> Proceedings (Yes / No)?
Yes
Main supervisor (name and email)<br>and his / her institution
Dr. Vanessa McBride
Email: vanessa@ast.uct.ac.za
Institution: University of cape town
