# Hunting for open clusters in Gaia EDR3: $664$ new open clusters found with OCfinder

**Authors:** A. Castro-Ginard, C. Jordi, X. Luri, T. Cantat-Gaudin, J. M. Carrasco, L. Casamiquela, F. Anders, L. Balaguer-Núñez, R. M. Badia  
**arXiv:** [2111.01819](https://arxiv.org/abs/2111.01819)  
**Date:** 2021-11-02  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2111.01819v1/

## Key points

- Study by Castro-Ginard et al. (2021) utilized \textit{Gaia} EDR3 data to identify and characterize open clusters in the Milky Way
- Improved accuracy in parallaxes and proper motions provided by \textit{Gaia} EDR3 allowed for a more comprehensive search for fainter and more distant open clusters
- Discovered 664 new open clusters within the Galactic disc, with a significant portion located beyond 1 kpc from our Sun using the \texttt{OCfinder} method within a Big Data environment
- Uncovered a total of 1,310 open clusters when combined with previous discoveries based on \textit{Gaia} DR2 data
- Analysis revealed distinct spatial distributions based on age, with younger clusters aligned along Galactic spiral arms and older clusters dispersed across the Galactic disc
- Most open clusters tended to be situated at low Galactic altitudes, with exceptions noted for groups older than 1 Gyr
- Comprehensive census expansion contributes significantly to understanding stellar groupings within our galaxy and sheds light on their distribution patterns and evolutionary history

## Summary

The recent study by Castro-Ginard et al. (2021) utilized the enhanced precision of \textit{Gaia} EDR3 data to identify and characterize open clusters in the Milky Way. The improved accuracy in parallaxes and proper motions provided by \textit{Gaia} EDR3 allowed for a more comprehensive search for fainter and more distant open clusters that were previously undetected. Using the innovative \texttt{OCfinder} method within a Big Data environment, the team discovered 664 new open clusters within the Galactic disc, with a significant portion located beyond 1 kpc from our Sun. The success of this method was further highlighted by its role in uncovering a total of 1,310 open clusters when combined with previous discoveries based on \textit{Gaia} DR2 data. Analysis of these newly identified clusters revealed distinct spatial distributions based on age, with younger clusters aligned along Galactic spiral arms and older clusters dispersed across the Galactic disc. Most open clusters tended to be situated at low Galactic altitudes, with some exceptions noted for groups older than 1 Gyr. This comprehensive census expansion contributes significantly to our understanding of stellar groupings within our galaxy and sheds light on their distribution patterns and evolutionary history. Overall, this study showcases how advancements in astronomical data processing techniques can lead to substantial enhancements in our knowledge of open cluster populations in the Milky Way.