NGC 188

NGC 188
NGC 188
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Cepheus
Right ascension	00h 48m 26s[1]
Declination	+85° 15.3′[1]
Distance	5,400 ly[2] (1.66 kpc)
Apparent dimensions (V)	15′
Physical characteristics
Radius	unknown
Other designations	Cl Melotte 2,[1] Caldwell 1
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 188 (also Caldwell 1) is an open cluster in the constellation Cepheus. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1825. Unlike most open clusters that drift apart after a few million years because of the gravitational interaction of our galaxy, NGC 188 lies far above the plane of the galaxy and is one of the most ancient of open clusters. It is one of the older known open clusters.

NGC 188 is very close to the North Celestial Pole, under five degrees away, and in the constellation of Cepheus at an estimated 5,000 light year distance, this puts it slightly above the Milky Way's disc and further from the center of the galaxy than the Sun.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 188. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2006-12-08. 
2. ^ Bonatto, C.; Bica, E.; Santos, J. F. C., Jr. (April 2005). "Spatial dependence of 2MASS luminosity and mass functions in the old open cluster NGC 188". Astronomy and Astrophysics 433 (3): 917–929. arXiv:astro-ph/0502453. Bibcode 2005A&A...433..917B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20041113. 

External links

• NGC 188 at SEDS NGC objects pages
• NGC 188 at NightSkyInfo.com
• NGC 188 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Astronomical catalogs
NGC:	NGC 186 - NGC 187 - NGC 188 - NGC 189 - NGC 190
Caldwell:	C1 - C2 - C3

Coordinates: 00^h 48^m 26^s, +85° 15′ 18″