Abstract:
We present new B, V and R linear polarimetric observations for 61 stars towards the region
of the young open cluster NGC 654. In this study we found evidence for the presence of at
least two layers of dust along the line of sight to the cluster. The distances to the two dust
layers are estimated to be ∼200 pc and ∼1 kpc which are located much closer to the Sun than
the cluster (∼2.4 kpc). Both the dust layers have their local magnetic field orientation nearly
parallel to the direction of the Galactic plane. The foreground dust layer is found to have a ring
morphology with the central hole coinciding with the centre of the cluster. The foreground
dust grains are suggested to be mainly responsible for both the observed differential reddening
and the polarization towards the cluster.
