2025MNRAS.541.1557B

This study presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of the star cluster AFGL 6366S, focusing on its fundamental, structural and dynamical properties. The membership analysis identifies 142 member stars for the cluster with a mean parallax of 0.389 $\pm$ 0.006 mas and mean proper motions of 0.315 $\pm$ 0.014 mas yr$^{-1}$ in right ascension and -2.005 $\pm$ 0.012 mas yr$^{-1}$ along declination. The cluster is very young, with an estimated age of 3.02 $\pm$ 0.14 Myr, partially embedded in its natal cloud and shows a visual extinction of 2.50 $\pm$ 0.35 mag. It represents a metal-rich environment with [Fe/H] = 0.35 $\pm$ 0.02. The structural parameters of the cluster are: central density = 1.10 $\pm$ 0.27 stars pc$^{-2}$, core radius = 2.17 $\pm$ 0.68 pc, tidal radius = 7.45 $\pm$ 0.87 pc, half-mass radius = 2.16 $\pm$ 0.37 pc and background density = 0.025 $\pm$ 0.009 stars pc$^{-2}$. The cluster is located at a distance of 3.00 $\pm$ 0.34 kpc and its Galactic orbit analysis classifies the cluster as a thin-disc object in the Milky Way, lying outside the solar circle. The cluster also exhibits a fractal, sub-structured morphology indicating that it is not yet dynamically relaxed and its structure as well as stellar distribution are likely evolving. The visual extinction map of the cluster region reveals differential reddening, an elongated filament ($\sim$ 3.01 pc in length) and 9 dense clumps $\le$ 0.5 pc in radii. The region likely exhibits the characteristics of hierarchical star formation.