# NGC 288

NGC 288 is a globular cluster in the constellation Sculptor. Its visual appearance was described by John Dreyer in 1888.[7] It is located about 1.8° southeast of the galaxy NGC 253, 37′ north-northeast of the South Galactic Pole, 15′ south-southeast of a 9th magnitude star, and encompassed by a half-circular chain of stars that opens on its southwest side.[1] It can be observed through binoculars.[1] It is not very concentrated and has a well resolved, large 3′ dense core that is surrounded by a much more diffuse and irregular 9′ diameter ring.[1] Peripheral members extend farther outward towards the south and especially southwest.[1]

NGC 288
NGC 288 by Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Channel of the Advanced Camera for Surveys
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassX[1]
ConstellationSculptor
Right ascension 00h 52m 45.24s[2]
Declination–26° 34′ 57.4″[2]
Distance28.7 kly (8.8 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)9.37[4]
Apparent dimensions (V)13′.8[1]
Physical characteristics
Mass4.8×104[5] M
Metallicity${\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}$ = –1.14[6] dex
Estimated age10.62 Gyr[6]
Other designationsMelotte 3[4]