NGC 188
Open Cluster & Galactical Cirrus
NGC 188 (also known as Caldwell 1) is an open cluster in the constellation Cepheus. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1825. Unlike most open clusters that drift apart after a few million years because of the gravitational interaction of our Milky Way galaxy, NGC 188 lies far above the plane of the galaxy and is one of the most ancient of open clusters known, at approximately 6.8 billion years old.

NGC 188 is very close to the North Celestial Pole, under five degrees away, and in the constellation of Cepheus at an estimated 5,000 light-years' distance, this puts it slightly above the Milky Way's disc and further from the center of the galaxy than the Sun.

The cluster is embedded in clouds of galactical cirrus (thin molecular clouds that are diffusely illuminated by the Milky Way).

Nominated for Top Pick on Astrobin

Image Details
Date
March 17, 2022 & January 24, 2024
LOCATion
Hannover (Germany)
Sky Quality
Bortle 5
Telescope
Celestron RASA 8 (203/400 f/2)
Mount
Skywatcher EQ6-R Pro
Main Camera
ZWO ASI 2600 MC Pro
Gain 100, Offset 18, -10°
Focuser
Celestron Motorfocus
Exposure
RGB: 200 × 120″ (6h 40′) & 305 × 60″ (5h 5′)
Total: 11h 45′
Guiding
ZWO ASI 120MM, PHD2
Calibration
Flats, Darks, Darkflats
Software
N.I.N.A., EQMod
Other
Artesky Filter Holder
Processing
Astropixelprocessor, Photoshop, Pixinsight
  
  
Gallery
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Galaxy
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Moon
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Moon
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