2MASS-GC02

2MASS-GC02
2MASS-GC02, imaged in infrared
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassIV
ConstellationSagittarius
Right ascension18h 09m 36.5s[1]
Declination−20° 46′ 44″[1]
Distance16.0 kly
(4.9 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)24.60[2]
Physical characteristics
Absolute magnitude−4.86[2]
Radius0.95′ × 0.95′[2]
Metallicity = −1.08[3] dex
Other designationsHurt 2
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

2MASS-GC02, also known as Hurt 2, is a globular cluster at a distance of about 16 thousand light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered in 2000 by Joselino Vasquez together with globular cluster 2MASS-GC01 and a spiral galaxy 2MASXI J0730080-220105,[4] and confirmed by a team of astronomers under the leadership of R. J. Hurt at 2MASS.[2]

The globular cluster 2MASS-GC02 is not in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, due to interstellar extinction, but was spotted in infrared light. It is located at a distance of 10.4 thousand light years from the center of the Milky Way.[2] Due to its trajectory, it has a negative radial velocity meaning it is approaching the Solar System, but its radial velocity is unclear. The radial velocity was originally put at −238 km/s,[5] but a newer analysis determined it to be −87 km/s; a 150 km/s difference.[6]

  1. ^ a b "NAME 2MASS-GC02". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e "2MASS-GC02, Hurt 2". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. ^ "A Galactic Globular Clusters Database: NGC 6540". Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  4. ^ Hurt et al. 2000.
  5. ^ Baumgardt, H.; Hilker, M.; Sollima, A.; Bellini, A. (2019). "Mean proper motions, space orbits, and velocity dispersion profiles of Galactic globular clusters derived from Gaia DR2 data". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 482 (4): 5138–5155. arXiv:1811.01507. doi:10.1093/mnras/sty2997.
  6. ^ Kunder, Andrea; Crabb, Riley E.; Debattista, Victor P.; Koch-Hansen, Andreas J.; Huhmann, Brianna M. (2021). "Spectroscopic Observations of Obscured Populations in the Inner Galaxy: 2MASS-GC02, Terzan 4, and the 200 km s−1 stellar peak". The Astronomical Journal. 162 (3): 86. arXiv:2106.02647. Bibcode:2021AJ....162...86K. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac0888. S2CID 235358083.