μ TAU: A 60 MYR-OLD ASSOCIATION AT 150 pc FROM THE SUN

We present an analysis of the newly identified μ Tau association of young stars at ∼150pc from the Sun and in the vicinity of the Taurus star-forming region although it is likely not related to it. We identify more than 500 candidate members using Gaia DR2 data and the BANYAN Σ Bayesian membership determination tool (Gagn ́e et al. 2018) and we determine an age of 62 ± 7 Myr for the association based on an empirical comparison of its color-magnitude diagram sequence with those of other nearby young associations. As part of this analysis, we introduce an iterative method based on spectral templates to perform an accurate correction of interstellar extinction of Gaia DR2 photometry, which is needed because of its wide photometric bandpasses. We show that members of μ Tau display an expected increased rate of stellar activity and faster rotation rates compared to older stars, and that its present-day mass function is consistent with other known nearby young associations. This relatively large collection of co-moving young stars near the Sun indicates that more work is required to unveil the full kinematic structure of the immediate Solar neighborhood.