NGC-2287 - AN IMPORTANT INTERMEDIATE-AGE OPEN CLUSTER

We have obtained photoelectric UBV photometry for 100 stars, uvbybeta Photometry for 39 stars and MK spectral types for 80 stars in the fiel d of NGC 2287. After combination with data from other sources, several interesting cluster properties are apparent. Both the UBV and uvbybet a photometry point to a small but nonzero reddening, while our spectra l types confirm previous results indicating a high binary frequency fo r the cluster. Based on our spectral and photometric data for the clus ter members with - 1 less-than-or-similar-to M(V) less-than-or-similar -to 3 we find a minimum binary frequency of 40% and discuss the possib ility that the results may imply a binary frequency closer to 80%. The cluster age is found to be approximately 2 X 10(8) yr based on both t he main-sequence turnoff and the red giant distribution; the width of the turnup region can probably be explained by a combination of duplic ity and a range in stellar rotation.