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NGC 1252
NGC 1252 as observed by the Digitized Sky Survey
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension	03 10 47
Declination	−57° 45′ 18″
Distance	2,100 ly (640 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.58
Apparent dimensions (V)	7.2″
Physical characteristics
Radius	~13 ly (4.0 pc)
Estimated age	3000.00±1000.00 Ma
Other designations	ESO 116-11
Associations
Constellation	Horologium
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.

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), while Baumgardt (1998) found it to be an asterism. Pavani, Bica, and Dutra et al. (2001) put the age at 3 billion years old and distance at 1,000 parsecs (3,300 ly). It is also approximately 900 parsecs (2,900 ly) below the galactic disc.

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.

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.

References

1. ^ 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. ^ "NGC 1252 - Open Cluster in Horologium". The Sky Live. Apparent Size. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
5. ^ 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. ^ 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.

v t e Constellation of Horologium
List of stars in Horologium Horologium in Chinese astronomy
Stars	Bayer α β γ δ ζ η ι λ μ ν Variable R TW HD 27631 Other DENIS 0334-49 Gliese 146 GJ 1061
Exoplanets HD 27631 b ι Horologii b
Star clusters	NGC 1252 1261 Other Arp-Madore 1
Galaxies	NGC 1249 1433 1448 1483 1493 1510 1512 Other PKS 0226-559 SPT0418-47
Galaxy clusters Horologium Supercluster
Category

• NGC objects
• Horologium (constellation)
• Astronomical objects discovered in 1834
• Open clusters
• Discoveries by John Herschel