Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2026 May 13 [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available. NGC 188: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Neven Krcmarek Explanation: [5]The New General Catalog of star clusters and nebulae really isn't so new. In fact, it was published in 1888 - an effort by [6]J. L. E. Dreyer to consolidate the work of astronomers [7]William, [8]Caroline, and [9]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 [10]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 [11]open star cluster. With an age of about 7 billion years, [12]NGC 188 is old for an open cluster. Its old, evolved [13]red giant stars have yellowish hues in [14]this colorful, deep sky view. NGC 188 also enjoys the designation [15]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 [16]Polarissima Cluster. Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [17]< | [18]Archive | [19]Submissions | [20]Index | [21]Search | [22]Calendar | [23]RSS | [24]Education | [25]About APOD | [26]Discuss | [27]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [28]Robert Nemiroff ([29]MTU) & [30]Jerry Bonnell ([31]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [32]Specific rights apply. [33]NASA Web Privacy, [34]Accessibility, [35]Notices; A service of: [36]ASD at [37]NASA / [38]GSFC, [39]NASA Science Activation & [40]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2605/Polarissima.jpg 3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 4. https://app.astrobin.com/u/NevenKrcmarek 5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_General_Catalogue 6. https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/j-l-e-dreyer/ 7. https://www.nasa.gov/history/240-years-ago-astronomer-william-herschel-identifies-uranus-as-the-seventh-planet/ 8. https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/caroline-herschel-first-paid-female-astronomer 9. https://www.lindahall.org/about/news/scientist-of-the-day/john-herschel/ 10. https://in-the-sky.org/data/catalogue.php?cat=NGC 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_cluster 12. https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.09255 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990312.html 14. https://app.astrobin.com/i/frpv4y 15. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-caldwell-catalog/caldwell-1/ 16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_188 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260512.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 21. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 23. https://apod.com/feed.rss 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 26. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260513 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260514.html 28. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 29. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 30. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 31. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 33. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 34. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 35. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 36. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 37. https://www.nasa.gov/ 38. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 39. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 40. http://www.mtu.edu/