2MASS photometry and kinematical studies of open cluster NGC 188

TL;DR

This study provides comprehensive photometric and kinematical analysis of the old open cluster NGC 188 using 2MASS data, determining key parameters like distance, age, and dynamical state.

Contribution

It offers new detailed astrophysical and kinematical parameters for NGC 188, including its distance, age, and dynamical relaxation status, based on 2MASS photometry and kinematic analysis.

Findings

Distance from Sun: 1721+/-41 pc

Cluster is dynamically relaxed

Results align with previous literature

Abstract

In this paper, we present our results for the photometric and kinematical studies of old open cluster NGC 188. We determined various astrophysical parameters like limited radius, core and tidal radii, distance, luminosity and mass functions, total mass, relaxation time etc. for the cluster using 2MASS catalog. We obtained the cluster's distance from the Sun as 1721+/-41 pc and log (age)= 9.85+/-0.05 at Solar metallicity. The relaxation time of the cluster is smaller than the estimated cluster age which suggests that the cluster is dynamically relaxed. Our results agree with the values mentioned in the literature. We also determined the cluster's apex coordinates as (281.88 deg, -44.76 deg) using AD-diagram method. Other kinematical parameters like space velocity components, cluster center and elements of Solar motion etc. have also been computed.