Multicolor Photometry of Red Giant Candidates in the Southern Open Cluster NGC 2447

Abstract

Photoelectric photometry in the UBV, DDO and Washington systems is presented for 14 late-type giant candidates of the southern open cluster NGC 2447. By applying two independent photometric criteria, nine stars are found to have a high probability of being cluster giants. The photometric membership results are in good agreement with those derived from published Coravel radial velocities. The mean interstellar reddening E_B-V = 0.05±0.04 has been derived from the confirmed cluster giants. NGC 2447 has a mean ultraviolet excess <δ (U-B)> = 0.01±0.02 (σ _n) with respect to solar composition K giants, and a mean cyanogen anomaly <Δ CN> = 0.01±0.02 (σ _n), both implying a small metal deficiency ([Fe/H] ≃ -0.1). Five independent Washington abundance indices yield a mean cluster metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.09±0.06, in agreement with the two previous estimates. Therefore, NGC 2447 is found to be slightly metal-poor.