B and V photometry of the metal-rich bulge globular cluster NGC 6304

Abstract

We presentBandVphotometry of the bulge globular cluster NGC 6304. We derive a reddening E(B-V) 0.5 and a distance from the Sun d 6 kpc. From the red giant branch morphology we estimate that the metallicity of NGC 6304 is intermediate between those of 47 Tuc and NGC 6528. The cluster is foreground to the bulk of the bulge population and the reddenings are comparable. Evidence of a hot stellar component belonging to the cluster is found. These hot stars could correspond to a blue extended horizontal branch and/or blue stragglers.