Giant M stars in Baade's Window

Abstract

Near-infrared small-dispersion spectra obtained with a grism at the prime focus of CTIO's 4-m telescope were used to survey and classify late-type red giants found in a circular area with a diameter of 24.4 arcmin which is contained within Baade's Window. The most significant feature of the survey is its completeness up to a distance that reaches, for the late M giants, past the galactic nuclear bulge. The stars presented here constitute, therefore, a unique complete sample of the red giant population of the galactic bulge. Out of a very large number of M giants found, 306, including all giants of type M6 or later, are presented in a list with their coordinates, spectral classes, and apparent I magnitudes. A finding chart is also presented. Evidence of uneven foreground interstellar obscuration in Baade's Window is found.