C87
NGC 1261
Properties
Position & Identifiers
Visibility
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About C87
Description
NGC 1261 is a globular cluster in Horologium, about 53,500 light-years away. It is a moderately concentrated cluster spanning about 7 arcminutes with an integrated magnitude of 8.4.
Observing Tips
Visible as a small, round glow in a 6-inch telescope. An 8-inch scope at 150x begins to resolve the outer edges. Located in the faint constellation Horologium, best found by star-hopping from brighter neighbors. Best in autumn and winter evenings.
History
Discovered by James Dunlop on October 1, 1826 from Australia. It is one of the more remote globular clusters in the southern sky.
Fun Facts
NGC 1261's orbit takes it far from the Milky Way's center, suggesting it may have been accreted from a now-destroyed dwarf galaxy. Its chemical composition supports an extragalactic origin.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Lithopsian. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026