| Palomar 5 | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Class | XII |
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Right ascension | 15h 16m 05.3s[1] |
| Declination | -00° 06′ 41″[1] |
| Distance | 75.7 ± ? kly (23.2 ± ? kpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | +11.75 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 6′.9 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mass | - M☉ (- kg) |
| Radius | 76 ly[2] |
| VHB | - |
| Estimated age | 11.5 ± 1.0 Gyr[3] |
| Notable features | Erroneously thought to be a dwarf galaxy |
| Other designations | UGC 9792, GCl 32[1] |
| See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters | |
Palomar 5 is a globular cluster discovered by Walter Baade in 1950. It was independently found again by Albert George Wilson in 1955. After the initial name of Serpens, it was subsequently catalogued as Palomar 5.
There is a process of disruption acting on this cluster because of the gravitation of the Milky Way - in fact there are many stars leaving this cluster in the form of a stellar stream. The stream has a mass of 5000 solar masses and is 30,000 light years long.[4]