New Galactic Star Clusters Discovered in the Disk Area of the VVVX
  Survey
  The "VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea eXtended (VVVX)" ESO Public Survey is
a near-infrared photometric sky survey that covers nearly 1700 sq. deg towards
the Galactic disk and bulge. It is well-suited to search for new open clusters,
hidden behind dust and gas. The pipeline processed and calibrated Ks-band tile
images of 40% of the disk area covered by VVVX was visually inspected for
stellar over-densities. Then, we identified cluster candidates by examination
of the composite JHKs color images. The color-magnitude diagrams of the cluster
candidates are constructed. Whenever possible the Gaia DR2 parameters are used
to calculate the mean proper motions, radial velocities, reddening and
distances. We report the discovery of 120 new infrared clusters and stellar
groups. Approximately, half of them (47%) are faint, compact, highly reddened,
and they seem to be associated with other indicators of recent star formation,
such as nearby Young Stellar Objects, Masers, H II regions or bubbles. The
preliminary distance determinations allow us to trace the clusters up to 4.5
kpc, but most of the cluster candidates are centered at 2.2 kpc. The mean
proper motions of the clusters, show that in general, they follow the disk
motion of the Galaxy.
