A photometric study of the two poorly known northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348

Abstract

We present CCD UBVI observations obtained in the field of the previously unstudied northern open clusters NGC 133 and NGC 1348. We argue that NGC 133 is a heavily contaminated cluster, for which we identify 13 candidate members down to V=14.50 mag on the basis of the position in the two-color Diagram. Membership has been checked against proper motions from Tycho 2, whenever available. The cluster turns out to have a reddening E(B-V)=0.60+/-0.10 mag, to be 630+/-150 pc distant from the Sun, and to have an age less than 10 Myrs. NGC 1348 is a more reddened clusters (E(B-V)=0.85+/-0.15 mag) for which we isolate 20 members. The cluster lies at a distance of 1.9+/-0.5 kpc away from the Sun, and has an age greater than 50 Myrs. Based on observations carried out at Mt Ekar, Asiago, Italy. Photometry is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/387/479