NGC 1252

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NGC 1252
NGC 1252 DSS.jpg
NGC 1252 as observed by the Digitized Sky Survey
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension 03h 10m 47s [1]
Declination −57° 45 18 [1]
Distance 2,100  ly (640  pc) [2] [note 1]
Apparent magnitude  (V)12.58 [3] [note 2]
Apparent dimensions (V)7.2 [4]
Physical characteristics
Radius~13 ly (4.0 pc) [5]
Estimated age3000.00±1000.00  Ma [6]
Other designations ESO 116-11 [7]
Associations
Constellation Horologium [4]
Galaxy Milky Way
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

NGC 1252 is a metal-poor, possible open cluster or open cluster remnant located in the constellation Horologium, containing around 20 stars. Discovered in 1834 by John Herschel, it was described by John Louis Emil Dreyer as an 8th-magnitude star surrounded by a group of 18 or 20 stars. Stars TW Horologii and HD 20286 were once considered to be part of NGC 1252, but this is now not likely. [1]

Due to the nature of the object, it has been given different classifications: according to Bouchet & Thé (1983), it is an open cluster at around 500 million years old located 470 parsecs (1,500 ly) away, with a diameter of 8 parsecs (26 ly), [5] while Baumgardt (1998) found it to be an asterism. [8] Pavani, Bica, and Dutra et al. (2001) put the age at 3 billion years old and distance at 1,000 parsecs (3,300 ly). [6] It is also approximately 900 parsecs (2,900 ly) below the galactic disc. [1]

Two structures are located nearby: the Tucana-Horologium association and the Hyades Stream. This proximity is the cause of the debate over NGC 1252's nature. [1]

Notes

  1. Estimates range from ~1,500 ly (470 pc) (Bouchet and Thé 1983) to ~2,600 ly (790 pc) (Pavani and Bica 2007); see text for a more complete discussion.
  2. Average of the 13 stars that de la Fuente Marcos et al. include as members.

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 38</span> Open cluster in the constellation Auriga

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4609</span> Open cluster in the constellation Crux

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 654</span> Open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia

NGC 654 is an open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1787. With apparent magnitude 6.5, it can be observed by binoculars. It is located 2,5° northeast of the star Delta Cassiopeiae. In the same low power field can also be seen the open clusters NGC 663 and NGC 659. It surrounds a 7th magnitude yellowish star, an F5Ia supergiant, which is a possible member of the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TW Horologii</span> Star in the constellation Horologium

TW Horologii is a carbon star and semiregular variable in the southern constellation of Horologium, near the eastern constellation border with Reticulum. It has a ruddy hue and, with an apparent visual magnitude that ranges from 5.52 down to 5.95, is visible to the naked eye and one of the brightest carbon stars. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of approximately 1,370 light years from the Sun. It is drifting further away with a radial velocity of +14 km/s. In the past this star has been considered a member of the open cluster NGC 1252, but this now seems unlikely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 1901</span> Open cluster in the constellation Dorado

NGC 1901 is an open cluster in the Dorado Constellation. It has a bright middle and is a little rich, with stars from 7th magnitude downwards. The celestial object was discovered on 30 December 1836 by the British astronomer John Herschel. The cluster is sparsely populated with GAIA data suggesting a membership of around 80 stars. It is considered unlikely it will survive its next pass through the Milky Way’s galactic plane in about 18 million years time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 146</span> Open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia

NGC 146 is a small open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1829 using his father's 18.7 inch reflecting telescope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 2539</span> Open cluster in the constellation Puppis

NGC 2539 is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis, located at the north edge of the constellation. It was discovered by William Herschel on January 31, 1785. It is a moderately rich cluster and with little central concentration, with Trumpler class II1m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 2659</span> Open cluster in the constellation Vela

NGC 2659 is an open cluster in the constellation Vela. It was discovered by John Herschel on 3 February, 1835. It is of Trumpler class III3m. It is a young cluster, with age nearly 8 million years. The core of the cluster is 1.93 parsec across and the total radius is 3.6 pc. The total number of stars that belong to the cluster is estimated to be 1,801 ± 608 stars and the total mass 857 ± 237 M. Among its members, one is a Be star, with four more possible Be stars.

NGC 5662 is an open cluster in the constellation Centaurus. It was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille on May 17, 1752 from South Africa. James Dunlop observed it on July 10, 1826 from Parramatta, Australia and added it to his catalog as No. 342.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 5617</span> Open cluster in the constellation Centaurus

NGC 5617 is an open cluster in the constellation Centaurus. NGC 5617 forms a binary open cluster with Trumpler 22. It lies one degree west-northwest of Alpha Centauri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 5316</span> Open cluster in the constellation Centaurus

NGC 5316 is an open cluster in the constellation Centaurus. It was discovered by James Dunlop in 1826. Located approximately 4,000 light years away from Earth, it is located in the Carina-Sagittarius arm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 2266</span> Open cluster in the constellation Gemini

NGC 2266 is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Gemini. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 7 December 1785. This is a relatively dim cluster with an integrated visual magnitude of 9.5 and an angular size of 5.0′. The stellar members can be readily resolved with an amateur telescope. NGC 2266 is located at a distance of 10,603 ly (3,251.0 pc) from the Sun. It is located close to the opposite part of the sky from the Galactic Center, or the anti-center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 2527</span> Open cluster in the constellation Puppis

NGC 2527 is an open cluster in the constellation Puppis. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 9, 1784. The cluster was also observed by John Herschel on January 7, 1831. He also observed it on February 5, 1837, identifying it as a different object, which was catalogued as NGC 2520. It is a poor cluster and with no central concentration, with Trumpler class III1p.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 7160</span> Open cluster in the constellation Cepheus

NGC 7160 is an open cluster in the constellation Cepheus. It was discovered by William Herschel on November 9, 1789. The cluster was also observed by John Herschel on October 7, 1829. It is a poor cluster and with little central concentration, with Trumpler class II3p. It is part of the stellar association Cepheus OB2, located one degree south-southwest of VV Cephei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 6910</span> Open cluster in the constellation Cygnus

NGC 6910 is an open cluster in the constellation Cygnus. It was discovered by William Herschel on October 17, 1786. The cluster was also observed by John Herschel on September 18, 1828. It is a poor cluster with prominent central concentration and Trumpler class I2p. NGC 6910 is the core cluster of the stellar association Cygnus OB9.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 de la Fuente Marcos, R.; de la Fuente Marcos, C.; Moni Bidin, C.; Carraro, G.; Costa, E. (4 July 2013). "NGC 1252: a high altitude, metal poor open cluster remnant". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 434 (1): 194–208. arXiv: 1306.1643 . doi: 10.1093/mnras/stt996 . Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  2. "WEBDA page for open cluster NGC 1252". WEBDA. Archived from the original on 17 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  3. de la Fuente Marcos, et al., table 4.
  4. 1 2 "NGC 1252 - Open Cluster in Horologium". The Sky Live. Apparent Size. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Bouchet, P.; Thé, P. S. (5 April 1983). "Notes on the open cluster NGC 1252 with the variable carbon star TW Horologii as a probable member" (PDF). Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 95 (570): 474. Bibcode:1983PASP...95..474B. doi:10.1086/131195. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 Pavani, D. B.; Bica, E.; Dutra, C. M.; Dottori, H.; Santiago, B. X.; Carranza, G.; Díaz, R. J. (15 August 2001). "Open clusters or their remnants: B and V photometry of NGC 1901 and NGC 1252" (PDF). Astronomy and Astrophysics. 374 (2): 554–563. arXiv: astro-ph/0106026 . Bibcode:2001A&A...374..554P. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010741. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  7. "NGC 1252". SIMBAD . Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg . Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  8. Baumgardt, H. (3 September 1998). "The Nature of Some Doubtful Open Clusters as Revealed by Hipparcos". Astronomy & Astrophysics . 340. Springer Science+Business Media: 404. Bibcode:1998A&A...340..402B via Astrophysics Data System.