NGC 2419 is one of the most distant globular clusters associated with the Milky Way, lying far beyond the galaxy’s main body. It was once thought to be intergalactic due to its vast distance but is now understood to orbit the Milky Way. This cluster is massive and luminous, containing hundreds of thousands of stars tightly bound by gravity. Despite its faint appearance in small telescopes, it remains an intriguing target for both visual observation and astrophotography.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Intergalactic Wanderer
- NGC: NGC 2419
- Caldwell: Caldwell 25
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
NGC 2419 is situated in a sparse region of the constellation Lynx, about 7° north of the bright star Castor in Gemini. It lies at the edge of a region known as the “Intergalactic Space,” far from other prominent celestial objects. The cluster’s position makes it a challenging but rewarding target for astrophotographers, particularly under dark skies with minimal light pollution.
Nice to Know
- NGC 2419 takes approximately three billion years to complete one orbit around the Milky Way.
- It is one of the most massive globular clusters in our galaxy, with a mass about 900,000 times that of the Sun.
- The cluster contains numerous variable stars, including RR Lyrae types, which are valuable for studying stellar evolution.
- Its nickname, “Intergalactic Wanderer,” originated from an early misconception that it was not gravitationally bound to the Milky Way.
Brightness, distance and size
NGC 2419 has an apparent magnitude of +9.06, making it visible through good-quality telescopes under dark skies. It is located approximately 300,000 light-years from Earth and spans about 260 light-years in diameter. In terms of apparent size, it covers around 4.6 to 6 arcminutes in the sky, depending on observational conditions and equipment used.
