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Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 188: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog
NASA ^ | 13 May, 2026 | Image Credit & Copyright: Neven Krcmarek

Posted on 05/13/2026 12:02:30 PM PDT by MtnClimber

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.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 05/13/2026 12:02:30 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 05/13/2026 12:02:48 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

3 posted on 05/13/2026 12:03:23 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

4 posted on 05/13/2026 12:03:23 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

I love these kind of universe pictures. How large a viewing window took this shot? I remember one Webb picture that was maybe one inch wide but had billions of galaxies shown.


5 posted on 05/13/2026 12:27:51 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


6 posted on 05/13/2026 12:29:15 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

Wow.


7 posted on 05/13/2026 12:29:15 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MtnClimber

Homey looking place.


8 posted on 05/13/2026 1:12:40 PM PDT by null and void (Trump isn't a pussycat, but he does have nine lives!)
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To: MtnClimber

If you connect all the bright stars, they spell out the word GRSKNDR.


9 posted on 05/13/2026 1:57:29 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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