Globular Cluster Palomar 2
History
The globular cluster Palomar 2 was discovered in the 1950s by the American astronomer Albert George Wilson in the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey photo plates. George O. Abell published a list of 13 globular clusters and 73 planetary nebulae in 1955. He noted «highly obscured». [331]
Physical Properties
Palomar 2 is a loose globular cluster of Shapley–Sawyer concentration class IX. The stars appear reddened due to the high absorption by interstellar gas due to the great distance. [331]
The globular cluster was studied in a study with the Hubble Space Telescope. The age has been estimated at 13.25 ± 0.12 billion years. It has about 140'000 solar masses. At a distance of 26.1 ± 1.5 kpc (about 85'000 light years) from the Sun, it is located in the outer halo of our Milky Way. [372]
Further infos at CDS: Palomar 2
Finder Chart
The globular cluster Palomar 2 is located in the constellation Auriga. The best observation time is September to April.
Visual Observation
Description pending ...