SCHMIDT PLATE SURVEY TOWARDS THE GALACTIC-CENTER .2. STELLAR STATISTICS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SAGITTARIUS-CARINA ARM

A study of the structure and kinematics of the Galaxy from Tautenburg Schmidt plates taken towards the Galactic centre (l = 17.0 degrees,b = +0.8 degrees) is presented. Proper motions and B, V magnitudes were d etermined for about 36 500 stars up to the limiting magnitude V = 16.( m)8 in a field of 8.95 square degrees. Proper motion accuracy of about 3 mas/year has been obtained for stars brighter than V = 15(m). The r ms errors of stellar magnitudes and (B - V) colours is about 0.1 mag. The majority of field stars in the survey are main sequence stars and red giants of the disk. They belong to the Local or Sagittarius-Carina arms, or they are located between these spiral arms. Comparing the mo delled and observed distributions of magnitudes and colours, we specif ied the interstellar extinction determined in the preceding study of o pen clusters in this field. The luminosity function towards the Galact ic centre was determined for stars with absolute magnitudes from - - 4 .(m)35 to +9(m). Kinematical and spatial distribution parameters up to 4 kpc from the Sun were obtained as a function of galactocentric dist ance.