2012A&A...546A.110B

We report new results for the massive evolved and main sequence members of the young galactic cluster DBS2003179. We determine the physical parameters and investigate the high-mass stellar content of the cluster, as well as of its close vicinity. Our analysis is based on ISAAC/VLT moderate-resolution (R≃4000) infrared spectroscopy of the brightest cluster members. We derive stellar parameters for sixteen of the stellar members, using full non-local thermodynamic equilibrium modeling of the obtained spectra. The cluster contains three late WN or WR/LBV stars (Obj4, Obj15, and Obj20:MDM32) and at least five OIf and five OV stars. According to the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for DBS2003179, the WR stars show masses above 85M_☉, the OIf stars are between 40 and 80M_☉, and the main sequence O stars are >20M_☉. There are indications of binarity for Obj4 and Obj11, and Obj3 shows a variable spectrum. The cluster is surrounded by a continuous protostar formation region most probably triggered by DBS2003179. We confirm that DBS2003179 is young massive cluster (2.5x10⁴M_☉) very close to the Galactic center at the distance of 7.9±0.8kpc.