A photometric and spectroscopic investigation of star formation in the very young open cluster NGC 6383

Context. The very young open cluster NGC 6383 centered on the O-star binary HD 159176 is an interesting place for studying the impact of early-type stars with strong radiation fields and powerful winds on the formation processes of low-mass stars. <BR /> Aims: To investigate this process, it is necessary to determine the characteristics (age, presence, or absence of circumstellar material) of the population of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in the cluster. <BR /> Methods: We obtained deep UBV(RI)[SUB]c[/SUB] Hα photometric data of the entire cluster as well as medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a subsample of X-ray selected objects. <BR /> Results: Our spectroscopic data reveal only very weak Hα emission lines in a few X-ray selected PMS candidates. We photometrically identify a number of Hα emission candidates but their cluster membership is uncertain. We find that the fainter objects in the field of view have a wide range of extinction (up to A[SUB]V[/SUB] = 20), one X-ray selected OB star having A[SUB]V[/SUB] â 8. <BR /> Conclusions: Our investigation uncovers a population of PMS stars in NGC 6383 that are probably coeval with HD 159176. In addition, we detect a population of reddened objects that are probably located at different depths within the natal molecular cloud of the cluster. Finally, we identify a rather complex spatial distribution of Hα emitters, which is probably indicative of a severe contamination by foreground and background stars. Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory (ESO, La Silla, Chile).Table 2 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/511/A25">http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/511/A25</A>