Peering through the veil: near-infrared photometry and extinction for the Galactic nuclear star cluster Accurate near infrared H, Ks, and L photometry and the near-infrared extinction-law toward the central parsec of the Galaxy

摘要: Context. The nuclear star cluster of the Galaxy is an important template for understanding its extragalactic counterparts, which can currently not be resolved into individual stars. Important drawbacks observations Galactic center are, however, presence strong and spatially highly variable interstellar extinction extreme crowding sources, makes use adaptive optics techniques necessary. Both points pose serious obstacles to precise photometry that needed analyzing stellar population. Aims. aims this work are provide accurate in multiple near-infrared broadband filters, determine powerlaw index extinction-law toward central parsec Galaxy, measurements absolute center, finally measure spatial variability on arcsecond scales. Methods. We Milky Way were obtained with camera system NAOS/CONICA at ESO VLT unit telescope 4. photometric method takes account anisoplanatic effects limits corresponding systematic uncertainties 2%. Absolute values H, Ks, L � -bands as well [ �� ][ ]