New surveys of UBV photometry and absolute proper motions at intermediate latitude

Abstract

A photometric and proper motion survey has been obtained in 2 directions at intermediate latitude: (l = 167.5°, b = 47.4°; α₂₀₀₀ = 9^h41^m26^s,δ₂₀₀₀ = +49°53'27") and (l = 278°, b = 47°; α₂₀₀₀ = 11^h42^m56^s, δ₂₀₀₀ = −12°31'42"). The survey covers 7.13 and 20.84 square degrees, respectively. The limiting magnitude is about 18.5 in V for both directions. We have derived the density laws for stars (M_V ≥ 3.5) as a function of distance from the galactic plane. The density laws for stars follow a sum of two exponentials with scale heights of 240 pc (thin disk) and 790 pc (thick disk), respectively. The local density of thick disk is found to be 6.1 ± 3% relative to the thin disk. The kinematical distribution of stars has been probed to distances up to 3.5 kpc above the galactic plane. New estimates of the parameters of velocity ellipsoid have been derived for the thick disk of the Galaxy. A comparison of our data sets with the Besancon model star count predictions has been performed, giving a good agreement in the magnitude range V = 13 to 18.