Large and kinematically unbiased samples of G and K type stars. I - The dwarfs

Four-color, Hβ, and (R,I) photometry has been obtained for some 5000 stars in four kinematically unbiased samples; Bright Star Catalogue ("bright star" sample), South Galactic Pole ("SGP" sample), selected areas at +15° declination ("Griffin" sample), and HD stars with Mphot = 8.5 to 8.6 mag inclusive ("Moore-Paddock-Wayman" or MPW sample). The present discussion involves the little-evolved main-sequence stars which constitute only some 10% of the overall sample. The luminosity and abundance parameters are calibrated with the Hyades supercluster, the Sirius supercluster, the Wolf 630 group, the Arcturus group, and Kapteyn's Star Group. Results of possible interest from the calibrating groups and superclusters are presented. The distributions of the abundances and space motions of the sample stars are discussed.