Multicolor NIT photometry of the anomalous globular cluster NGC 288

We present UBV photometry of 2494 stars in a 38 arcmin square field in the anomalous high latitude globular cluster NGC 288 observed with a CCD camera and the 3.5 m NTT at ESO/La Silla. Our results can be summarized as follows: V-TO=18.90+/-0.14, and turnoff colors at (B-V)(TO)=0.46+/-0.05, (U-B)(TO)=-0.02+/-0.05, and independently (U-V)(TO)=0.45+/-0.07 (estimated external uncertainties). By fitting the resulting B-V ridge line to the theoretical isochrones of Bergbusch & VandenBerg (1992, ApJS, 81, 163) with [Fe/H]=-1.26, Y=0.2358, and [O/Fe]=+0.55, we derive the following values: the apparent distance modulus, (m-M)(v)=14.85+/-0.10 and the interstellar reddening E(B-V)= 0.04+/-0.02, and an age of 14+/-2 Gyr. We note the presence of approximately 17 blue stragglers, 4 hot faint BHB stars,and 5 faint possibly variable stars. (C) 1997 American Astronomical Society.