NGC 2419

NGC 2419 also known as the Intergalactic Wanderer is a globular cluster in the constellation Lynx like having a brightness of 10.3 and a diameter of 4 '. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 31 in 1788 and is located at a distance of about 275,000 light-years from the solar system and 300,000 light-years from the Galactic Center. NGC 2419 is 7 ° north and slightly east of the star Castor in the constellation Gemini locate. He is compared to known globular cluster Messier 13 as significantly fainter, but can be seen in good sky conditions from 10 cm telescope aperture.

William Herschel recognized him at that time with his telescope only as a round spot, which was dissolved in 1850 by Lord Rosse with his Leviathan telescope into individual stars and was first considered by this as a possible globular clusters. Was finally confirmed as the globular cluster NGC 2419 in 1922 by Carl Otto Lampland with a reception at the Lowell Observatory. Harlow Shapley was the same year at a first distance estimate with 160,000 light-years, which Walter Baade at Mount Wilson Observatory further increased to 182,000 light-years based on the study of RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters. Because of the time not yet known large size of the Milky Way and systematically underestimated distances to other galaxies such as the Andromeda nebula NGC 2419 Harlow Shapley was nicknamed Intergalactic Tramp which later Intergalactic Wanderer was made.

Only later was it recognized duly despite his even greater actual distance of 275,000 light years, as the Milky Way, but needs to orbit the Milky Way about 3 billion years. Also, 14 more gravitationally bound to the Milky Way globular clusters have been found since then with C 0422-213, AM -1, Palomar 3, Palomar 4 and Palomar that are further away than NGC 2419.