NGC 1261 is a globular cluster in Horologium. James Dunlop discovered this globular cluster on November 24, 1826 and cataloged it as Dunlop 337.
NGC 1261 has a visual magnitude of 8.2 and an apparent diameter of 6.9 arc minutes. This well-condensed globular cluster lies in a fine field, and is made up of mostly very faint stars. Dreyer describes it as bright, large, round, and very resolvable in a 12" telescope.
NGC 1261 is located 53,500 light years from the Sun, and 59,400 light years from the galactic center.