Low-mass stars in the Hyades

We present VRI photometry for a proper-motion-selected sample of candidate Hyades members, complete to V = 19 over 110 deg2. 210 stars in the magnitude range |$8\lt{V}\lt{19}$| have colours consistent with membership, although not all have a high probability of cluster membership once the proper motion data are taken into account. Based on these data and previously published observations of brighter stars, we construct colour-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions for the cluster. The luminosity function, |$\Phi ({M}_{\upsilon}),\rm \enspace peaks \enspace at \enspace {M}_{\upsilon}\sim+12,$| with a sharp decline in number density at fainter magnitudes, and the bolometric luminosity function (inferred from MI) is very similar to that derived from recent deep photometric surveys in the field. We discuss the possibility of detecting further faint cluster members.