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
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    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/