                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

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                                 2026 May 13

               NGC 188: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Neven Krcmarek

   Explanation: The New General Catalog of star clusters and nebulae
   really isn't so new. In fact, it was published in 1888 - an effort by
   J. L. E. Dreyer to consolidate the work of astronomers William,
   Caroline, and John Herschel along with others into a useful single,
   complete catalog of astronomical discoveries and measurements. Dreyer's
   work was largely successful and is still important today, as this
   famous catalog continues to lend its "NGC" to bright clusters,
   galaxies, and nebulae. Take for example the star cluster known as NGC
   188 (item number 188 in the NGC compilation). It lies about 6,000
   light-years distant in the northern constellation Cepheus and
   represents a galactic or open star cluster. With an age of about 7
   billion years, NGC 188 is old for an open cluster. Its old, evolved red
   giant stars have yellowish hues in this colorful, deep sky view. NGC
   188 also enjoys the designation Caldwell 1 in a modern compilation of
   deep sky objects. Located well above the plane of the Milky Way and
   seen in the direction of planet Earth's north celestial pole, the
   ancient stellar group is known to some as the Polarissima Cluster.

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