The Galactic Legacy Infrared
Mid-Plane Survey Extraordinaire (GLIMPSE) Team
has recently produced a large database of infrared
point sources in the inner Galaxy. The database,
which includes a high-reliability catalog and
an archive of point sources, is being generated
from mid-infrared images taken by the Infrared
Array Camera (IRAC) aboard the Spitzer Space
Telescope. We have developed an algorithm that
uses the GLIMPSE point source catalog and archive
to systematically search for and detect star
clusters. The software operates by locating
and characterizing significant over-densities
in the sky distribution of point sources. Using
cluster-based modeling techniques we are able
to detect star clusters and measuring several
of their properties, including location, angular
size, and member density. |