A photometric study of the intermediate age open cluster King 5

We report on near IR (J and K bands) observations of an $8^{prime} imes 8^{prime}$ region centered on the poorly studied open cluster King 5, for which only optical photometry existed. We found that the cluster is of moderate age (1.0 Gry old), intermediate in age between the Hyades and NGC 752. Combining optical and IR photometry we obtain estimates for cluster parameters. The color excess E(J-K), E(V-I) and E(V-K) are 0.50, 1.10 and 2.45, respectively. The true distance modulus turns out to be $(m-M)_0) = 11.40pm 0.15$. As a consequence, King 5 is 1.9 kpc far from the Sun.Comment: 7 pages, 6 eps figures, accepted for pubblication in Astronomy and Astrophysic