Dynamical and Photometric Analysis of NGC 146 and King 14: Evidence for a Comoving, Unbound Cluster Pair

Abstract To understand the nature of the NGC 146–King 14 cluster pair, we conducted a detailed photometric, astrometric, and dynamical study using multiwavelength data from Gaia DR3, Pan-STARRS1, WISE, and TESS. Using a probabilistic approach, we identified 770 and 690 high-probability members of NGC 146 and King 14, respectively. Both clusters exhibit well-defined radial density profiles consistent with King models. We estimate the cluster ages as 20 ± 5 Myr and 50 ± 10 Myr from isochrone fitting, and distances of 2.98 ± 0.33 kpc and 2.51 ± 0.23 kpc from parallaxes after applying the Bailer-Jones criteria. The clusters show consistent mean proper motions. The mass function slopes (1.51 ± 0.18 and 1.50 ± 0.15)…