New catalogue of optically visible open clusters and candidates

We have compiled a new catalogue of open clusters in the Galaxy which updates the previous cat- alogues of Lyng a (1987) and of Mermilliod (1995) (included in the WEBDA database). New objects and new data, in particular, data on kinematics (proper motions) that were not present in the old catalogues, have been included. Virtually all the clusters (1537) presently known were included, which represents an increment of about 347 objects relative to the Lyng a (1987) catalogue. The catalogue is presented in a single table con- taining all the important data, which makes it easy to use. The catalogue can be accessed on line either at http://www.astro.iag.usp.br/~wilton/ or as an electronic table which will be made available at the CDS.