Results are presented of Stromgren uvby(beta) photometry for 213 stars earlier than G0 and brigher than mpg of about 10.7mag in Selected Area 203. The observed area lies close to the geometric center of the Chamaeleon-Musca dark clouds complex. The results yield V, (b-y), m1, c1, and beta on the standard systems, with overall rms errors for one observation of one star of 0.010, 0.004, 0.007, 0.009, and 0.011, respectively.
Photometric color excesses and distances plus heliocentric coordinates are calculated for 3762 southern A and early-F stars. The present results, combined with those previously published for the Northern Hemisphere, complete the coverage of the spatial distribution of interstellar reddening in the entire solar neighborhood. The new reddening maps show that the interstellar matter within 300pc of the Sun forms a single very large cloud complex that is somewhat asymmetrical with respect to both the galactic center and the galactic plane. This complex is characterized by pronounced local irregularities in both density and spatial extent. The observations further indicate that (1) the cloud complex is not associated with Gould's belt; (2) there exist large regions of the sky devoid of dust; (3) interstellar reddening is negligible at the galactic poles; (4) the role of intercloud dust in the Southern Hemisphere is minor although more important than in the Northern Hemisphere; (5) the Sun is not located in a dust-free, spherically symmetric bubble as previously thought; and (6) the Sun is, however, located in an elongated dust-free region known as the "local trough."
We present Stroemgren uvby and H_{beta}_ photometry for a set of 575 northern main sequence A type stars, most of them belonging to the Hipparcos Input Catalogue, with V from 5mag to 10mag and with known radial velocities. These observations enlarge the catalogue we began to compile some years ago to more than 1500 stars. Our catalogue includes kinematic and astrophysical data for each star. Our future goal is to perform an accurate analysis of the kinematical behaviour of these stars in the solar neighbourhood.
The {beta} Cephei stars and slowly pulsating B (SPB) stars are massive main sequence variables. The strength of their pulsational driving strongly depends on the opacity of iron-group elements. As many of those stars naturally occur in young open clusters, whose metallicities can be determined in several fundamental ways, it is logical to study the incidence of pulsation in several young open clusters. To provide the foundation for such an investigation, Stroemgren-Crawford uvby{beta} photometry of open cluster target stars was carried out to determine effective temperatures, luminosities, and therefore cluster memberships. In the course of three observing runs, uvby{beta} photometry for 168 target stars was acquired and transformed into the standard system by measurements of 117 standard stars. The list of target stars also included some known cluster and field {beta} Cephei stars, as well as {beta} Cephei and SPB candidates that are targets of the asteroseismic part of the Kepler satellite mission. The uvby{beta} photometric results are presented. The data are shown to be on the standard system, and the properties of the target stars are discussed: 140 of these are indeed OB stars, a total of 101 targets lie within the {beta} Cephei and/or SPB star instability strips, and each investigated cluster contains such potential pulsators. These measurements will be taken advantage of in a number of subsequent publications.
We present CCD uvby{beta} photometry for stars in the nuclei of the young double cluster {h} and {chi} Persei. We find that the reddening is highly variable through the {h} Per nucleus, increasing from west to east, with values ranging from E(b-y)=0.328+/-0.022 in the western part to E(b-y)=0.465+/-0.025 in the south-east. Towards {chi} Persei the reddening is fairly constant, with E(b-y)=0.398+/-0.025. Both clusters share a common distance modulus of 11.7+/-0.1mag, and an age of logt=7.10+/-0.05 years.
Lambda Bootis stars comprise only a small number of all A-type stars and are characterized as nonmagnetic, Population I, late B to early F-type dwarfs which show significant underabundances of metals whereas the light elements (C, N, O and S) are almost normal abundant compared to the Sun. In the second paper on a spectroscopic survey for lambda Bootis stars, we present the spectral classifications of all program stars observed. These stars were selected on the basis of their Stromgren uvbybeta colors as lambda Bootis candidates. In total, 708 objects in six open clusters, the Orion OB1 association and the Galactic field were classified. In addition, nine serendipity non-candidates in the vicinity of our program stars as well as 15 Guide Star Catalogue stars were observed resulting in a total of 732 classified stars. The 15 objects from the Guide Star Catalogue are part of a program for the classification of apparent variable stars from the Fine Guidance Sensors of the Hubble Space Telescope. A grid of 105 MK standard as well as ``pathological'' stars guarantees a precise classification. A comparison of our spectral classification with the extensive work of Abt & Morrell (1995, Cat. <J/ApJS/99/135>) shows no significant differences. The derived types are 0.23+/-0.09 (rms error per measurement) subclasses later and 0.30+/-0.08 luminosity classes more luminous than those of Abt & Morrell (1995, Cat. <J/ApJS/99/135>)) based on a sample of 160 objects in common. The estimated errors of the means are +/-0.1 subclasses. The characteristics of our sample are discussed in respect to the distribution on the sky, apparent visual magnitudes and Stromgren uvbybeta colors. Table 2 lists all observed Galactic field stars.
