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NGC 1261

Globular Cluster Good (52/100)
NGC 1261 GlobularCluster Hor Visible Level 2 Small telescope (4") - Higher magnification helpful
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Properties

Magnitude 8.4
Angular Size 5.1′
glob. cl. , B, L, R, rr

Position & Identifiers

RA 03h 12m 18.0s
Dec -55° 13' 00.0"
Constellation Hor
Catalog NGC 1261

Visibility

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Eyepiece View

108x TFOV: 0.5° Lim. mag: 13.3
N E

NGC 1261 · 5.1′ diameter · N up, E left

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About NGC 1261

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.