NGC 188
Properties
Position & Identifiers
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NGC 188 · 17.7′ diameter · N up, E left
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About NGC 188
Description
NGC 188 is one of the oldest known open clusters in our galaxy, estimated at about 6.8 billion years old. Located in Cepheus near the north celestial pole, it lies roughly 5,400 light-years away and contains around 120 stars spread across 14 arcminutes.
Observing Tips
A challenging target requiring at least a 6-inch telescope to resolve individual stars. Located just 4 degrees from Polaris, it is circumpolar from most northern latitudes and can be observed year-round. Best seen at medium power (100-150x).
History
Discovered by John Herschel in 1831. Its extreme age makes it one of the most studied open clusters. Patrick Moore selected it as C1 for his Caldwell catalog, published in 1995 as a complement to the Messier catalog.
Fun Facts
At nearly 7 billion years old, NGC 188 is older than our Sun. Its survival is remarkable because most open clusters are torn apart by gravitational interactions within a billion years. The cluster orbits high above the galactic plane, which may explain how it avoided disruption.