Optical images of MCLD123.5+24.9: a cloud illuminated by the North star? We present B R I images of a 1degr {x}1degr field centered on themolecular cloud (MCLD123.5+24.9) located in the large infrared cirrusknown as the Polaris Flare. The optical images are compared with IRASimages and an extinction map derived from stellar reddenings. We analysethe possibility for the North star (HD8890), only 1degr North of thefield, to be the source of MCLD123.5+24.9 optical emission. For widelyaccepted values of the dust albedo (omega = 0.6) and the assymetryparameter of the Henyey Greenstein phase function (0.7
Meridian observations made with the Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle at Brorfelde (Copenhagen University Observatory) 1981-1982 The 7-inch transit circle instrument with which the present position andmagnitude catalog for 1577 stars with visual magnitudes greater than11.0 was obtained had been equipped with a photoelectric moving slitmicrometer and a minicomputer to control the entire observationalprocess. Positions are reduced relative to the FK4 system for each nightover the whole meridian rather than the usual narrow zones. Thepositions of the FK4 stars used in the least squares solution are alsogiven in the catalog.
The reddening of Polaris The B-V color excess of Polaris is obtained by using uvby-betaphotometry of 11 field stars within 0.75 deg of arc of Polaris anddereddening the field stars with the various color calibrations of theStromgren system. An apparent distance of 109 pc is estimated forPolaris, and a color excess of E(B-V) equals 0.02 + or - 0.02 is found.This result is taken as supporting the claims that Polaris is unreddenedor at worst very slightly reddened and therefore lies on the red edge ofthe Cepheid instability strip, as is expected for a small-amplitudeCepheid.
