This dissertation presents a technique for the identification and classification of late-type stars and for the estimation of M star metallicities. The technique uses broad-band, V and I, CCD images to identify red stars and two intermediate-band CCD images to classify these as carbon or M types. One of the intermediate passbands is centered on a TiO absorption band at 7750Å and the other is centered on a CN absorption band at 8100Å. Color-color plots of V-I versus the intermediate-band index, 77-81, clearly distinguishes carbon from M stars. Observations of both early- and late-type stars were used to define the 77-81 system based upon the intermediate-band filters. The TiO bandstrength deduced from the 77-81 color as a function of V-I color was investigated for field giants and giants in 12 globular clusters. A linear correlation between [Fe/H] and the V-I color at a given TiO bandstrength was found. This correlation can be used to estimate the metallicity of M giants. The stellar population of a field in Baade's Window was examined using this technique. Many late-M stars and no carbon stars were found. The color-color diagram for Baade's Window suggests a range of metallicities for the M giants of [Fe/H] ≈ -0.4 to > +0.2. The stellar population of the Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular galaxy (Sagdig) was examined using the 77-81 system. A method for estimating reddening based upon the color mode of foreground stars was developed for the analysis of the Sagdig data. Sagdig is estimated to be ~ 1.3 megaparsecs distant. Bright blue and red stars in Sagdig are evidence for recent star formation. Carbon stars were identified in Sagdig. They display a bimodal luminosity and color distribution which suggests distinct epochs of star forming activity between 1 and 10 Gyr ago. The spatial distribution of carbon stars and bright red stars in Sagdig shows this galaxy to be much larger than previously thought.

Study determined if 2MASS photometric data are reliable for luminosity classification using JHK plots of Reid and Hawley (2001). Effects of interstellar reddening on the placement of giant and dwarf data on the JIIK plot were analyzed. Dwarfs (N=54) were selected from Hipparchos and the 2MASS data reduced to an H-K range of 0.14-0.40. A disk dwarf region was identified using linear regression on the low space velocity stars. Giants selected from Volume 5 of the Michigan Catalogue of HD stars and SAG stars classified at Ball State University. They yielded 304 individual giants and 13 matches in the 0.14-0.40 H-K range respectively. The 2MASS data was reliable for luminosity classification of the SAGBSU giants. The classification of the Michigan giants was not possible due to interstellar reddening and the likely presence of faint giant companions. / Department of Physics and Astronomy