C18
Galaxy in Cassiopeia
About
NGC 185, a small dwarf galaxy in Cassiopeia, about 2.1 million light-years away. It is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy and, unlike most galaxies of its kind, has formed young stars near its centre within the last billion years.
Imaging tips
- At 1,880–3,130 mm on APS-C the galaxy fills a good part of the frame; it is about 13′ across, so there is room for the surrounding star field.
- Faint at 23.2 mag/arcsec², so plan many hours of broadband data; as a galaxy it gains nothing from narrowband filters.
- Young star clusters sit near the centre, unusual for a galaxy of this type, so the core is where fine detail will show.
- Best around September and October; it passes almost overhead (about 88°) from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 12.9′ × 10.8′
- Magnitude
- 9.2
- Coordinates
- RA 0h 38.9m, Dec +48° 20′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1880–3130 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 2880–4800 mm
- Best months
- Sep, Oct
- Peak altitude
- 88° from 50°N, 77° from 35°N