NGC 1261 is a globular cluster 50,000 light years away in the constellation of Horologium.
It is estimated that somewhere between 8 and 11 billion years ago a dwarf galaxy which is referred to as Gaia Enceladus which was a satellite of our galaxy merged with the Milky Way.
The merger contributed significant mass to the central portion of our galaxy but also created the outer halo.
NGC 1261 was part of Gaia Enceladus until it found its new home in our galaxy. The determination of origin is based on chemical and metalocity analysis of NGC 1261 as compared to remnants of Gaia Enceladus which differ from those of the Milky Way.
Imaged in LRGB on my Planewave CDK 1000 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile.
Image acquisition and processing: Mike Selby