C3
Galaxy in Draco
About
Draco is home to this barred spiral, roughly 11.7–14.5 million light-years away and tied to the M81 Group. Stars are forming across its entire disk, and its emission nebulae are plentiful.
Imaging tips
- Large at 22′ × 7′: 1,100–1,840 mm on APS-C fits it, or a wider lens for the surroundings.
- Very low surface brightness at 23.8 mag/arcsec²; a galaxy needs broadband and many hours of data.
- One LRGB image combined 22 luminance frames with 9–11 per colour channel, each 10 minutes, so about 8.7 hours.
- Best around March and April; it peaks near 71° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 22′ × 7′
- Magnitude
- 9.7
- Coordinates
- RA 12h 16.7m, Dec +69° 28′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1100–1840 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1690–2810 mm
- Best months
- Mar, Apr
- Peak altitude
- 71° from 50°N, 56° from 35°N