Clump stars in the Solar Neighbourhood

Abstract

Hipparcos data has allowed the identification of a large number of clump stars in the Solar Neighbourhood. We discuss our present knowledge about their distributions of masses, ages, colours, magnitudes, and metallicities. We point out that the age distribution of clump stars is ``biased'' towards intermediate-ages. Therefore, the metallicity information they contain is different from that provided by the local G dwarfs. Since accurate abundance determinations are about to become available, these may provide useful constraints to chemical evolution models of the local disc.

6 pages, proc. of the Sept. 20-24, 1999 Vulcano Workshop "The chemical evolution of the Milky Way: stars vs. clusters", eds. F. Matteucci, F. Giovanelli

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