Study of open clusters within 1.8 kpc and understanding the Galactic
  structure
  Based on an almost complete sample of Galactic open star clusters within 1.8
kpc, we perform a comprehensive statistical analysis of various cluster
parameters like spatial position, age, size, mass and extinction in order to
understand the general properties of the open cluster system in the Galaxy and
the Galactic structure. Based on the distribution of 1241 open clusters about
the Galactic plane and in different age bins, we find the average Galactic
scale height as Zh = 60+/-2 pc for the youngest cluster population having Age
<700 Myr, however, it increases up to 64+/-2 pc when we also include older
population of clusters. The solar offset is found to be 6.2+/-1.1 pc above the
formal Galactic plane. We derive a local mass density of \rho_0 = 0.090+/-0.005
Msun/pc^3 and found a negligibly small amount of dark matter in the solar
neighbourhood. The reddening in the direction of clusters suggests a strong
correlation with their vertical distance from the Galactic plane having a
respective slope of dE(B-V)/dz = 0.40+/-0.04 and 0.42+/-0.05 mag/kpc below and
above the GP. We observe a linear mass-radius and mass-age relations in the
open clusters and derive a slope of dR/d(logM) = 2.08+/-0.10 and
d(logM)/d(logT) = -0.36+/-0.05,respectively.
