NGC 1868

NGC 1868 is a globular cluster in the Large [Magellanic Cloud] in the constellation Dorado. It was discovered by John Herschel in 1834. The cluster is fairly metal-poor and as a result appears relatively blue. It maintains an abundant population of mature giant branch stars which have been used to fit its age to roughly 700 million years old. The cluster is located in a relatively sparse region of the Large Magellanic Cloud which has allowed it to be studied relatively free of crowding from background stars.