NGC 1261 is a globular cluster located in the constellation of Horologium. It is approximately 150,000 light-years away from Earth and is one of the many clusters that orbit the Milky Way galaxy. NGC 1261 is notable for its relatively low metallicity, indicating that it is an older cluster with stars that formed early in the universe's history. Discovered by the astronomer John Herschel in 1834, NGC 1261 contains thousands of stars tightly packed together. Its core is dense, and the cluster is estimated to be around 12 billion years old. Observations of NGC 1261 provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of globular clusters.