Recent theoretical work has shown that the integrated colors of low mass star clusters can be affected by stochastic sampling of the initial mass function.  In other words, the random addition (or subtraction) of a few unexpected stars in a cluster could change the integrated colors.  These random effects are believed to strongly impact our ability to determine the ages of clusters.  In a previous study we have shown that the optical colors of a sample of Galactic open clusters were not strongly impacted by these effects.  As a continuation of that project, we aim to characterize how these random star forming events affect the near infrared colors and their impact on the use of near infrared colors as age indicators.  The data collected and analyzed by the student will be made available to the astronomical community via an online database.  The results of the project will be included in a publication in a professional journal.

This can be a project for course credit with the potential for some cash (over summer).

An undergraduate physics, astronomy, and/or math major that is enthusiastic about research in astronomy.