Palomar 5

Palomar 5 (short: Pal 5) is a globular cluster in the constellation of the Serpent. Pal 5 was discovered in 1950 by Walter Baade and rediscovered in 1955 by Albert George Wilson. He is one of about 5,000 solar masses to the lowest mass known globular clusters.

Palomar 5 is about 75,700 light-years away from us. He circled for about 10 billion years, the Milky Way. During several passages lost through the plane of the Milky Way Pal 5 gradually parts of its matter in the Milky Way. Part of the torn matter formed two, about 15,000 light-years long tidal tails, which are also known as Palomar 5 - star power. The star power moves with Pal 5 around the Milky Way and contains predominantly low-mass stars. Overall suffered Pal 5 previously a mass loss of nearly 50,000 solar masses.

In 110 million years, Pal 5 will move again through the Milky Way. He will join a star- rich area in about 23,000 light years distance from the center. Here, Pal 5 is probably fully incorporated from the Milky Way.