UCAC2 Research Articles

UCAC4: Stellar kinematics with vector spherical functions

AbstractWe present a method of kinematic analysis of proper motions by vector spherical functions, and the results of its application to astrometric data. The sets of vector spherical functions which are orthonormal on a full sphere as well as on a latitude zone are constructed. Decomposition of the proper motions into a set of such functions allows model‐independent study of stellar kinematics. If needed, the parameters of the standard (say, Ogorodnikov‐Milne) model may be derived from the coefficients of the decomposition. In contrast to the commonly used least squares estimation of the model's parameters, vector spherical functions identify all systematic components of the velocity field (no matter, whether they are incorporated into the model or not) and give us a possibility to test whether the data are compatible with the model. In this paper, we apply this technique for the first time to the proper motions from the UCAC4 catalog for stars in the 11 to 16 magnitude range. We derive all‐sky solutions and the solutions based on stars in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres. The all‐sky solution provide evidence for noticeable magnitude‐dependent trends in the coordinates of the solar motion apex, Oort constants, angular speed of the local Galactic rotation, and the slope of the local rotation velocity curve as we go from bright to faint stars. Furthermore, our all‐sky vector spherical function analysis identified strong and reliable extramodel harmonics, whereas the solutions for the northern and southern hemisphere indicate sign reversals for some of the Ogorodnikov‐Milne parameters. We show that both effects appear simultaneously and can be explained by the slowdown of Galactic rotation with increasing distance from the main Galactic plane. We estimate the absolute value of the vertical gradient of the Galactic rotational velocity to be ∼40 km s–1 kpc–1. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

DOUBLE STARS IN THE USNO CCD ASTROGRAPHIC CATALOG

The newly completed Fourth USNO CCD Astrographic Catalog (UCAC4) has proven to be a rich source of double star astrometry and photometry. Following initial comparisons of UCAC4 results against those obtained by speckle interferometry, the UCAC4 catalog was matched against known double stars in the Washington Double Star Catalog in order to provide additional differential astrometry and photometry for these pairs. Matches to 58,131 pairs yielded 61,895 astrometric and 68,935 photometric measurements. Finally, a search for possible new common proper motion (CPM) pairs was made using new UCAC4 proper motion data; this resulted in 4755 new potential CPM doubles (and an additional 27,718 astrometric and photometric measures from UCAC and other sources).

Proper motions of young stars in Chamaeleon

The Chamaeleon star-forming region has been extensively studied in the last decades. However, most studies have been confined to the densest parts of the clouds. In a previous paper, we analysed the kinematical properties of the spectroscopically confirmed population of the Chamaeleon I and II clouds. We now report on a search for new kinematical candidate members to the Chamaeleon I and II moving groups using available information from public databases and catalogues. Our candidates were initially selected in an area of 3 deg around each cloud on the basis of proper motions and colours from the UCAC4 Catalog. The SEDs of the objects were constructed using photometry retrieved from the Virtual Observatory and other resources, and fitted to models of stellar photospheres to derive effective temperatures, gravity values, and luminosities. Masses and ages were estimated by comparison with theoretical evolutionary tracks in a Hertzprung-Russell diagram. We have identified 51 and 14 candidate members to the Chamaeleon I and II moving groups, respectively, of which 17 and 1, respectively, are classified as probable young stars (ages < 20 Myr) according to our analysis. Another object in Chamaeleon I located slightly above the 1 Myr isochrone is classified as a possible young star. All these objects are diskless stars with masses in the range 0.3M-1.4MSun, and ages consistent with those reported for the corresponding confirmed members. They tend to be located at the boundaries of or outside the dark clouds, preferably to the north-east and south-east in the case of Chamaeleon I, and to the north-east in the case of Chamaeleon II. We conclude that the kinematical population of Chamaeleon I and II could be larger and spread over a larger area of the sky than suggested by previous studies.

A new reduction of digitized photographic plates with selected asteroids obtained with the normal astrograph of the Pulkovo Observatory from 1948 to 1990

The results of a new reduction of 1545 photographic observations of 14 selected asteroids obtained with the Normal Astrograph of the Pulkovo Observatory from 1948 to 1990 are presented. Photographic plates stored in the archive of the observatory were digitized with a general purpose flatbed scanner using a specially developed technique. The accuracy of the reduction of photographic plates is measured. The UCAC3 catalogue has been used as a reference. Residual differences between coordinates of stars in the reference catalogue are used to analyze and tacking into account obtained instrumental systematic errors. Equatorial coordinates of 1378 individual observations of target asteroids are obtained. They are compared with the results of the reduction of the material made earlier. Among the objects of the background, positions of 1475 stars with large proper motions from the LSPM catalogue are measured.

Rio survey of optical astrometric positions for 300 ICRF2 sources and the current optical/radio frame link status before Gaia★

We obtained improved optical positions for 300 ICRF2 sources - the Rio survey. We compared the Rio survey with 10 other selected optical astrometric surveys and studied the link between the Hipparcos Catalogue Reference Frame (HCRF) and the International Celestial Reference Frame, Second Realization (ICRF2). We investigated the possible causes for the observed non-coincidence between the optical and ICRF2 positions. The Rio survey positions were referred to the second version of the United States Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC2), currently the best tested HCRF densification. The sources are between -90 degrees < delta < +30 degrees. We used two telescopes with suitable diameters and focal lengths to properly link the observed ICRF2 sources with the UCAC2, using intermediate brightness stars. We certified the astrometry done with many statistical tests. The average 'optical minus ICRF2' offsets and respective standard deviations in (alpha, delta) were -3 mas (41 mas) and +4 (45 mas). The Rio survey represents well the zero-point offset of the other surveys. The standard error of 3.5 mas found for the HCRF/ICRF2 link indicates an error excess that can be originated by a non-coincidence between the observed optical/VLBI positions. We thus discussed the influence of the errors from the UCAC2. Then, we searched for correlations with the source morphology, represented by structure indices defined in the radio and in the optical domain. Finally, we studied how the position offsets could originate from the perturbation of the optical point spread function (PSF) of the source's core, by a second source of flux. We found an analytical relation that describes the resulting centroid shift, as a function of the atmospheric seeing, the brightness ratio and the relative distance between the two contributing flux sources. Two scenarios, modelled by this relation, are discussed: an extinction window in the dust torus nearby the core, and a Galactic star near the line of sight.

Proper motions of young stars in Chamaeleon

(abridged) We want to provide further evidence of the origin of the proposed stellar members of Chamaeleon and to identify interlopers from the foreground \epsilon Cha and \eta Cha associations. To this aim, we compile lists of spectroscopically confirmed members of Chamaeleon I and II, \epsilon Cha and \eta Cha, and of background objects in the same line of sight. Using Virtual Observatory tools, we cross-match these lists with the UCAC3 catalogue to get the proper motions of the objects. In the vector point diagram, we identify the different moving groups, and use this information to study the membership of proposed candidate members of the associations from the literature. For those objects with available radial velocities, we compute their Galactic space velocities. We look for correlations between the known properties of the objects and their proper motions. The members of the dark clouds exhibit clearly different proper motions from those of the foreground associations and of the background stars. The data suggest that Chamaeleon II could have different dynamical properties from Chamaeleon I. Although the two foreground clusters \epsilon and \eta Chamaeleontis constitute two different proper motion groups, they have similar spatial motions, which are different from the spatial motion of Chamaeleon I. On the other hand, the space motions of the Chamaeleon II stars look more similar to those of the foreground clusters than to the Chamaeleon I stars, but the numbers are low. Hence, with the available data it is unclear to what extent the stellar populations in both clouds are physically connected to each other. We find no correlations between the proper motions and the properties of the objects in either of the clouds.

Estimation of the solar galactocentric distance and galactic rotation velocity from near-solar-circle objects

We have tested the method of determining the solar Galactocentric distance R_0 and Galactic rotation velocity $V_0$ modified by Sofue et al. using near-solar-circle objects. The motion of objects relative to the local standard of rest has been properly taken into account. We show that when such young objects as star-forming regions or Cepheids are analyzed, allowance for the perturbations produced by the Galactic spiral density wave improves the statistical significance of the estimates. The estimate of R_0=7.25\pm0.32 kpc has been obtained from 19 star-forming regions. The following estimates have been obtained from a sample of 14 Cepheids (with pulsation periods P>5^d): R_0=7.66\pm0.36 kpc and V_0=267\pm 17 km s^{-1}. We consider the influence of the adopted Oort constant A and the character of stellar proper motions (Hipparcos or UCAC4). The following estimates have been obtained from a sample of 18 Cepheids with stellar proper motions from the UCAC4 catalog: R_0=7.64\pm0.32 kpc and V_0=217\pm 11 km s^{-1}.

Star catalogue in the fields of axial meridian circle of the Nikolaev observatory

On the base of CCD-observations made with the axial meridian circle of the Nikolaev Observatory from 2008 to 2009, we compiled a catalogue for astrometric positions and proper motions for 140321 stars located in an ecliptic zone and around high proper motion stars. The root-meansquare error for a star position is 20–65 mas in right ascension and 30–70 mas in declination. The UCAC2 catalogue is used as a reference for astrometric reductions. To derive stars’ proper motion and to estimate systematic errors of the compiled catalogue, cross-identification of the obtained data with modern astronomic catalogues Tycho2, 2MASS, CMC14, LSPM, PPMX, USNO-A2, and XPM-1.0 is performed. In addition to star position and proper motion, our catalogue contains photometric values B, V, r’, J, H, and K taken from other catalogues.

THE FOURTH US NAVAL OBSERVATORY CCD ASTROGRAPH CATALOG (UCAC4)

The fourth United States Naval Observatory (USNO) CCD Astrograph Catalog, UCAC4 was released in August 2012 (double-sided DVD and CDS data center Vizier catalog I/322). It is the final release in this series and contains over 113 million objects; over 105 million of them with proper motions. UCAC4 is an updated version of UCAC3 with about the same number of stars also covering all-sky. Bugs were fixed, Schmidt plate survey data were avoided, and precise 5-band photometry were added. Astrograph observations have been supplemented for bright stars by FK6, Hipparcos and Tycho-2 data to compile a UCAC4 star catalog complete to about magnitude R = 16. Epoch 1998 to 2004 positions are obtained from observations with the 20 cm aperture USNO Astrograph's red lens, equipped with a 4k by 4k CCD. Mean positions and proper motions are derived by combining these observations with over 140 ground- and space-based catalogs, including Hipparcos/Tycho and the AC2000.2, as well as unpublished measures of over 5000 plates from other astrographs. For most of the faint stars the first epoch plates from the Southern Proper Motion (SPM) and the Northern Proper Motion (NPM) programs form the basis for proper motions. These data are supplemented by 2MASS near-IR photometry for about 110 million stars and 5-band (B,V,g,r,i) APASS data for over 51 million stars. Thus the published UCAC4, as were UCAC3 and UCAC2, is a compiled catalog with the UCAC observational program being a major component. The positional accuracy of stars in UCAC4 at mean epoch is about 15 to 100 mas per coordinate, depending on magnitude, while the formal errors in proper motions range from about 1 to 10 mas/yr depending on magnitude and observing history. Systematic errors in proper motions are estimated to be about 1 to 4 mas/yr.

Candidate stellar occultations by large trans-Neptunian objects up to 2015

We study large trans-neptunian objects (TNOs) using stellar occultations. We derive precise astrometric predictions for stellar occultations by Eris, Haumea, Ixion, Makemake, Orcus, Quaoar, Sedna, Varuna, 2002 TX300, and 2003 AZ84 for 2011-2015. We construct local astrometric catalogs of stars in the UCAC2 (Second US Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog) frame covering the sky path of these objects. For that purpose, during 2007-2009, we carried out an observational program at the ESO2p2/WFI (2.2 m Max-Planck ESO telescope with the Wide Field Imager) instrument. Astrometric catalogs with proper motions were produced for each TNO, containing more than 5.35 million stars covering the sky paths with 30' width in declination. The magnitude completeness is about R = 19 with a limit of about R = 21. We predicted 2717 stellar occultation candidates for all targets. Ephemeris offsets with about from 50 mas to 100 mas precision were applied to each TNO orbit to improve the predictions. They were obtained during 2007-2010 from a parallel observational campaign carried out with from 0.6 m to 2.2 m in size telescopes. This extends our previous work for the Pluto system to large TNOs, using the same observational and astrometric procedures. The obtained astrometric catalogs are useful for follow-up programs at small to large telescopes used to improve the candidate star positions and TNO ephemeris. They also furnish valuable photometric information for the field stars. For each TNO, updates on the ephemeris offsets and candidate star positions (geometric conditions of predictions and finding charts) are made available in the web by the group.

UCAC3 PROPER MOTION SURVEY. II. DISCOVERY OF NEW PROPER MOTION STARS IN UCAC3 WITH 0.″40 yr–1&gt; μ ⩾ 0.″18 yr–1BETWEEN DECLINATIONS –47° and 00°

We present 474 new proper motion stellar systems in the southern sky having no previously known components, with 0.40" yr^-1 > mu >= 0.18" yr^-1 between declinations -47 deg and 00 deg. In this second paper utilizing the U.S. Naval Observatory third CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC3) we complete our sweep of the southern sky for objects in the proper motion range targeted by this survey with R magnitudes ranging from 9.80 to 19.61. The new systems contribute a ~16% increase in the number of new stellar systems for the same region of sky reported in previous SuperCOSMOS RECONS (SCR) surveys. Among the newly discovered stellar systems are 16 multiples, plus an additional 10 components that are new common proper motion companions to previously known objects. A comparison of UCAC3 proper motions to those from Hipparcos, Tycho-2, Southern Proper Motion (SPM4), and SuperCOSMOS indicates that all proper motions are consistent to ~10 mas/yr, with the exception of SuperCOSMOS. Distance estimates are derived for all stellar systems having SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey (SSS) B_J, R_59F, and I_IVN plate magnitudes and Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) infrared photometry. We find five new red dwarf systems estimated to be within 25 pc. These discoveries support results from previous proper motion surveys suggesting that more nearby stellar systems are to be found, particularly in the fainter, slower moving samples. In this second paper utilizing the U.S. Naval Observatory third CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC3) we complete our sweep of the southern sky for objects in the proper motion range targeted by this survey with R magnitudes ranging from 9.80 to 19.61.

Astrometric observations of major satellites of Saturn with a 26-inch refractor

The results of observations of Saturn and its satellites with the 26-inch refractor at Pulkovo are presented. Over the observing period from January 2008 until May 2009, results were found from more than 5000 CCD frames suitable for measurement. On the basis of these frames, 183 positions of major satellites of Saturn (with the exception of Mimas) were obtained. The astrometric reduction was based on the Turner method, with the use of the UCAC2 catalog as a reference. The obtained equatorial coordinates of satellites were compared with the TASS 1.7 theory, and results of comparison are presented. The accuracy of observed positions is 0.05″ on average. Positions of Saturn, calculated on the basis of positions of satellites and their theoretical saturnocentric coordinates according to the TASS 1.7, and the differential coordinates of satellites relative to each other, are also given.

Rotational effects in the system of proper motions of the UCAC3 catalogue

A set of ≈8 million single stars of the UCAC3 catalogue has been analysed. It contains stars with reliable proper motions with not less than three epochs of observations used to compute the proper motion. Our main goal is to investigate the inertiality of the reference system defined by ‘good’ stars of the UCAC3 catalogue. The formalism of vectorial spherical harmonics has been applied to analyse the system of proper motions of the selected UCAC3 stars. A comparison between the results of solutions for several subsets of UCAC3 stars shows that the key parameters significantly change with stellar magnitudes, colours and average distances. The values of the components of the rigid-body rotation vector of the Hipparcos Celestial Reference Frame (HCRF) with respect to extragalactic sources were determined using ‘proper motions’ of more than 8000 galaxies of the UCAC3 catalogue. The values are ω1= 0.58 ± 0.15, ω2=−1.02 ± 0.15, ω3=−0.59 ± 0.17 mas yr−1 in galactic coordinates. Traces of the considerable magnitude equation are seen in the ‘proper motions’ of the UCAC3 galaxies. The most significant component derived from the analysis of the UCAC3 galaxies is ω2. It does not contradict the results of the analysis of the proper motions of selected stars (ω2=−1.09 ± 0.02 mas yr−1).

EURONEAR—Recovery, follow-up and discovery of NEAs and MBAs using large field 1–2 m telescopes

We report on the follow-up and recovery of 100 program NEAs, PHAs and VIs using the ESO/MPG 2.2m, Swope 1m and INT 2.5m telescopes equipped with large field cameras. The 127 fields observed during 11 nights covered 29 square degrees. Using these data, we present the incidental survey work which includes 558 known MBAs and 628 unknown moving objects mostly consistent with MBAs from which 58 objects became official discoveries. We planned the runs using six criteria and four servers which focus mostly on faint and poorly observed objects in need of confirmation, follow-up and recovery. We followed 62 faint NEAs within one month after discovery and we recovered 10 faint NEAs having big uncertainties at their second or later opposition. Using the INT we eliminated four PHA candidates and VIs. We observed in total 1286 moving objects and we reported more than 10,000 positions. All data were reduced by the members of our network in a team effort, and reported promptly to the MPC. The positions of the program NEAs were published in 27 MPC and MPEC references and used to improve their orbits. The O−C residuals for known MBAs and program NEAs are smallest for the ESO/MPG and Swope and about four times larger for the INT whose field is more distorted. For the astrometric reduction, the UCAC-2 catalog is recommended instead of USNO-B1. The incidental survey allowed us to study statistics of the MBA and NEA populations observable today with 1–2m facilities. We calculate preliminary orbits for all unknown objects, classifying them as official discoveries, later identifications and unknown outstanding objects. The orbital elements a, e, i calculated by FIND_ORB software for the official discoveries and later identified objects are very similar with the published elements which take into account longer observational arcs; thus preliminary orbits were used in statistics for the whole unknown dataset. We present a basic model which can be used to distinguish between MBAs and potential NEAs in any sky survey. Based on three evaluation methods, most of our unknown objects are consistent with MBAs, while up to 16 unknown objects could represent NEO candidates and four represent our best NEO candidates. We assessed the observability of the unknown MBA and NEA populations using 1 and 2m surveys. Employing a 1m facility, one can observe today fewer unknown objects than known MBAs and very few new NEOs. Using a 2m facility, a slightly larger number of unknown than known asteroids could be detected in the main belt. Between 0.1 and 0.8 new NEO candidates per square degree could be discovered using a 2m telescope.

The Design of Multi-Index System on UCAC2 Catalog

Catalog is a celestial databank which records various parameters, such as location, motion, magnitude, and spectral type. UCAC2 (The Second U.S. Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog) is a high density, highly accurate, astrometric catalog of 48,330,571 stars. Currently the UCAC2 catalog can only be accessed by an index of ascension and declination. To facilitate the efficient multi-dimensional access to UCAC2, this paper proposed the detailed design and implementation of the multi-indexed catalog database. The newly established index system can provide efficient access in multiple entrance to the catalog.

Residual rotation of the Hipparcos/Tycho-2 system as determined from the data of the XPM catalogue

From a comparison of absolute proper motions of stars from the XPM catalogue with those of the same stars from the PPMXL, UCAC3, Tycho-2 and XC1 catalogues, the equatorial components of the rotation vector of these coordinate systems are determined with respect to the coordinate system specified by positions and proper motions of XPM. These parameters are calculated with the use of about 90 million stars from the UCAC3 catalogue and about 300 million stars from the PPMXL catalogue. It is shown that the Hipparcos Celestial Reference Frame represented by the Tycho-2, PPMXL, UCAC3 and XC1 catalogues has a significant rotation component ωz = (−1.8 ± 0.16) mas yr −1 about the equatorial axis directed to the celestial pole. The result is confirmed by an analysis of the formal proper motions of the extragalactic sources contained in the considered catalogues. We investigate the problem of residual rotation of the Hipparcos/Tycho-2 system with respect to extragalactic objects by comparing the derived absolute proper motions of the XPM stars with those of the stars representing the Hipparcos Celestial Reference Frame system. The accuracy of the solution for this problem strongly depends on the accuracy of the proper motions used. In this case, systematic errors of the data in use are determinative rather than random ones. A correct solution is possible only under the condition that the systematic errors in the absolute proper motions of the XPM stars are eliminated. As was shown in Fedorov et al. (2011, hereafter Paper III), the magnitude equation in the XPM catalogue has been eliminated both in the bright and in the faint parts of the stellar magnitude range, while testing confirms the absence of the system rotation within an accuracy of several tenths of a milliarcsecond. This is a reason to treat the system of the XPM catalogue as an independent realization of the International Celestial Reference System, and to use it as a standard when comparing with other systems of coordinates.

A new astrometric reduction of photographic plates using the DAMIAN digitizer: improving the dynamics of the Jovian system

Abstract : The astrometric monitoring of the natural planetary satellites is an important step to assess the formation and the evolution of these systems. However, in order to quantify relevant gravitational effects such as tidal forces, it is necessary to have very accurate observations over a long time interval. Unfortunately, the accuracy is decreasing as one considers older observations. To solve this issue, digitizing of old photographic plates is an attractive method, but a high accuracy in the measurement and the reduction of those plates is absolutely necessary. We have developed methods and algorithms adapted to specific plates provided by USNO, using the DAMIAN digitizer of ROB. From a set of 35 plates taken in 1974, we have been able to produce measurements with an accuracy better than 0.08 micrometers and after reduction using the UCAC2 catalogue, rms residuals of 35 mas (1.7 micrometers) for intersatellite positions (when the original reduction provided 100 mas) and of 65 mas for equatorial RA and Dec. positions (which were not possible to get with the original reduction). First results on the dynamics of the satellites and of the planet Jupiter are provided.

Candidate subdwarfs and white dwarfs from the 2MASS, Tycho-2, XPM and UCAC3 catalogues

Photometry from the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS), United States Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC3) and SuperCosmos catalogues, together with proper motions from the Tycho-2, Kharkiv Proper Motions (XPM) and UCAC3 catalogues, is used to select all-sky samples of 28 candidate white dwarfs, 1826 evolved and 7641 unevolved subdwarfs for R from 9–17 mag. The samples are separated from main-sequence stars with an admixture of less than 10 per cent, owing to an analysis of the distribution of the stars in colour index versus reduced proper-motion diagrams for various latitudes using related Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that the XPM and UCAC3 catalogues have the same level of proper-motion accuracy. Most of the selected stars have at least six-band photometry. This allows us to eliminate some admixtures and reveal some binaries. Empirical calibrations of absolute magnitude versus colour index and reduced proper motion for Hipparcos stars give us distances and a three-dimensional (3D) distribution for all the selected stars. It is shown that the subdwarf samples are almost complete for the Tycho-2 stars, i.e. to 11 mag or 150 pc from the Sun. For fainter stars from the XPM and UCAC3 catalogues, the subdwarf samples are complete only to 20–60 per cent because of the selection method and incompleteness of the catalogues. Some conclusions can be made, however, especially for Tycho-2 stars with known radial velocities and metallicities. The subdwarfs show some concentration in the Galactic Centre hemisphere, with voids due to extinction in the Gould belt and the Galactic plane. Some as yet unexplained overdensities of evolved subdwarfs are seen in several parts of the sky. For 176 stars with radial velocities, the 3D motion and Galactic orbits are calculated. For 57 stars with Fe/H we find relations of the metallicity with colour index, asymmetric drift velocity and orbital eccentricity. All the data are consistent with the suggestion that most unevolved subdwarfs belong to the low-metallicity halo with large asymmetric drift, whereas evolved subdwarfs have various metallicities and velocities and include both disc and halo stars. The lower limit of the local mass density of unevolved subdwarfs, estimated as 2 × 10−5 M⊙ pc−3, appears twice as high as traditional estimates. The selected stars are listed in the new catalogue of candidate subdwarfs and white dwarfs from the 2MASS, Tycho-2, XPM and UCAC3 catalogues (hereafter SDWD catalogue) for future spectroscopic confirmation of the subluminous status of these stars, because the majority of them are now classified for the first time.

PARALLAXES OF SOUTHERN EXTREMELY COOL OBJECTS. I. TARGETS, PROPER MOTIONS, AND FIRST RESULTS

We present results from the PARallaxes of Southern Extremely Cool objects (PARSEC) program, an observational program begun in April 2007 to determine parallaxes for 122 L and 28 T southern hemisphere dwarfs using the Wide Field Imager on the ESO 2.2m telescope. The results presented here include parallaxes of 10 targets from observations over 18 months and a first version proper motion catalog. The proper motions were obtained by combining PARSEC observations astrometrically reduced with respect to the UCAC2 Catalog, and the 2MASS Catalog. The resulting median proper motion precision is 5mas/yr for 195,700 sources. The 140 0.3deg2 fields sample the southern hemisphere in an unbiased fashion with the exception of the galactic plane due to the small number of targets in that region. We present preliminary parallaxes with a 4.2 mas median precision for 10 brown dwarfs, 2 of which are within 10pc. These increase by 20% the present number of L dwarfs with published parallaxes. Of the 10 targets, 7 have been previously discussed in the literature: two were thought to be binary but the PARSEC observations show them to be single, one has been confirmed as a binary companion and another has been found to be part of a binary system, both of which will make good benchmark systems. Observations for the PARSEC program will end in early 2011 providing 3-4 years of coverage for all targets. The main expected outputs are: more than a 100% increase of the number of L dwarfs with parallaxes; to increment - in conjuction with published results - to at least 10 the number of objects per spectral subclass up to L9, and; to put sensible limits on the general binary fraction of brown dwarfs. We aim to contribute significantly to the understanding of the faint end of the H-R diagram and of the L/T transition region.

A revisit to the region of Collinder 132 using Carte du Ciel and Astrographic Catalogue plates

<i>Aims. <i/>Based on stellar positions and proper motions, we aim to re-analyse the region of the controversial open cluster Collinder 132.<i>Methods. <i/>We have developed a model which analyses the proper motion distribution and the stellar density to find moving groups. The astrometric data were obtained from four Carte du Ciel (CdC) and one Astrogaphic Catalogue (AC) plates of the Córdoba Astronomical Observatory collection (Argentina).<i>Results. <i/>We detected an open cluster from the field stars and calculated the mean proper motion and the membership probabilities of the region's stars. We report new coordinates of its centre <i>α<i/><sub>c<sub/> = 108347, <i>δ<i/><sub>c<sub/> = -31011, the components of mean proper motion <i>μ<i/><sub><i>α<i/><sub/>cos<i>δ<i/> = -2.62<i>±<i/>0.44 mas/yr, <i>μ<i/><sub><i>δ<i/><sub/> = 4.79<i>±<i/>0.88 mas/yr. Thirteen stars are astrometric members giving a value of 20' for the cluster angular diameter. Six stars fulfil the astrometric and photometric criteria for being cluster members and locate the cluster at 360 pc from the Sun. We propose a simple model for the analysis of the proper motion distribution of an association. We report the components of the association mean proper motion <i>μ<i/><sub><i>α<i/><sub/>cos<i>δ<i/> = -1.38<i>±<i/>0.14 mas/yr, <i>μ<i/><sub><i>δ<i/><sub/> = 2.26<i>±<i/>0.16 mas/yr. We found 149 astrometric members, 11 of which have reliable photometric data that locate them betweeen 417 and 660 pc from the Sun.