Berkeley 39 stars photometry and abundances

We are investigating the chemical composition of several clusters with masses of a few 10^4^M_{sun}_ to establish the lower mass limit for the multiple stellar population phenomenon. Using VLT/FLAMES spectra we determine abundances of Fe, O, Na, and several other elements ({alpha} Fe-peak, and neutron-capture elements) in the old open cluster Berkeley 39.

This is a massive open cluster: M~10^4^M_{sun}_, approximately at the border between small globular clusters and large open clusters. Our sample size of about 30 stars is one of the largest to be studied for abundances in any open cluster, and could be useful to determine improved cluster parameters, like age, distance, and reddening, when coupled with precise, well-calibrated photometry. We find that Berkeley 39 is slightly metal- poor, <[Fe/H]>~=-0.20, in agreement with previous studies of this cluster.