NGC-7762 - A FORGOTTEN MODERATE AGE OPEN CLUSTER

We report CCD B and V photometry for the central region of the old ope n cluster NGC 7762. The cluster appears very loose and occupies a larg e sky area. The Colour Magnitude Diagram (CMD) shows a distinct Main S equence (MS) down to V similar or equal to 16.5, and a couple of evolv ed stars. The bottom of the sequence is characterized by a large sprea d, much greater than the expected broadness due to photometric errors, and probably related to low mass stars evaporation. The analysis here carried out allows us to conclude that NGC 7762 in an intermediate ag e cluster about 1.8 Gyr old. The comparison with theoretical isochrone s from the Padova group constrains colour excess and apparent distance modulus in the range 0.85-0.90 and 12.00-12.20, respectively. The dis tance to the Sun comes out to be 800 pc, somewhat lower than Chincarin i's (1966) estimate.