Uncertainties in the Age Scale for Young Open Clusters and Moving Groups

Abstract

Young open clusters provide the template data for calibrating nearly all methods of age-dating field stars. Despite the potential for open cluster ages to be quite precise – and despite a large amount of observational effort – the age scale for young open clusters is still controversial, with correction factors of a factor of 2 or more proposed. I will discuss some of the causes for this uncertainty, and touch on the role of future large surveys in helping to resolve the issue.

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