NGC 1261

NGC 1261 (also known as Caldwell 87) is a globular cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Horologium, first discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop in 1826. The cluster is located at a distance of 53 kilolight-years from the Sun, and 59 kilolight-years from the Galactic Center.[3] It is about 10.24[7] billion years old with 341,000[6] times the mass of the Sun. The cluster does not display the normal indications of core collapse, but evidence suggests it may have instead passed through a post core-collapse bounce state within the past two billion years. The central luminosity density is 2.22 L☉·pc−3, which is low for a globular cluster.[8] Despite this, it has a Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class of II,[1] indicating a dense central concentration.

NGC 1261
NGC 1261 from Hubble Legacy Archive
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ClassII[1]
ConstellationHorologium
Right ascension 03h 12m 16.21s[2]
Declination–55° 12′ 58.4″[2]
Distance53.5 kly (16.4 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)8.63[4]
Apparent dimensions (V)12.9′
Physical characteristics
Absolute magnitude−7.81[5]
Mass3.41×105[6] M☉
Metallicity = −1.38±0.14[5] dex
Estimated age10.24 Gyr[7]
Other designationsGCL 5,[4] ESO 155-SC11, Caldwell 87

A total of 22 RR Lyrae variables have been discovered in this cluster, along with two long-period variables, three SX Phoenicis variables, and an eclipsing binary.[9] It was determined to be an Oosterhoff type I cluster, based on the periods of fourteen of the RR Lyrae variables.[10] 18 probable blue straggler candidates have been identified.[5]

References
  1. Shapley, Harlow; Sawyer, Helen B. (August 1927), "A Classification of Globular Clusters", Harvard College Observatory Bulletin, 849 (849): 11–14, Bibcode:1927BHarO.849...11S.
  2. Goldsbury, Ryan; et al. (December 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. X. New Determinations of Centers for 65 Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 140 (6): 1830–1837, arXiv:1008.2755, Bibcode:2010AJ....140.1830G, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1830.
  3. Paust, Nathaniel E. Q.; et al. (February 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. VIII. Effects of Environment on Globular Cluster Global Mass Functions", The Astronomical Journal, 139 (2): 476–491, Bibcode:2010AJ....139..476P, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/2/476, hdl:2152/34371.
  4. "NGC 1261". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  5. Kravtsov, V.; et al. (June 2010), "Wide-field multi-color photometry of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 1261", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 516: 8, arXiv:1005.0007, Bibcode:2010A&A...516A..23K, doi:10.1051/0004-6361/200913449, A23.
  6. Boyles, J.; et al. (November 2011), "Young Radio Pulsars in Galactic Globular Clusters", The Astrophysical Journal, 742 (1): 51, arXiv:1108.4402, Bibcode:2011ApJ...742...51B, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/742/1/51.
  7. Forbes, Duncan A.; Bridges, Terry (May 2010), "Accreted versus in situ Milky Way globular clusters", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 404 (3): 1203–1214, arXiv:1001.4289, Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1203F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16373.x.
  8. Simunovic, Mirko; et al. (November 2014), "The Blue Straggler Star Population in NGC 1261: Evidence for a Post-core-collapse Bounce State", The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 795 (1): 5, arXiv:1410.0693, Bibcode:2014ApJ...795L..10S, doi:10.1088/2041-8205/795/1/L10, L10.
  9. Salinas, R.; et al. (September 2016), "An AO-assisted Variability Study of Four Globular Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 152 (3): 10, arXiv:1605.06517, Bibcode:2016AJ....152...55S, doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/3/55, 55.
  10. Wehlau, A.; Demers, S. (May 1977), "NGC 1261 and the Oosterhoff type I systems", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 57: 251–256, Bibcode:1977A&A....57..251W.
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