C48
Galaxy in Cancer
About
A ring-bearing spiral galaxy in Cancer, about 67 million light-years away and some 79,000 light-years across. Its large central bulge holds little gas, while star formation continues in a dusty outer ring. Its smaller neighbour NGC 2777 is joined to it by a thread of hydrogen gas. Caldwell 48.
Imaging tips
- About 4′ across, so it is too small to frame: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- A galaxy, so broadband data is the choice; the dust lanes and outer ring reward long total integration.
- Dust lanes thread between the blue arms and a star-forming ring circles the bulge, so collect enough colour data to show both.
- Best around January and February; it peaks near 47° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 4.3′ × 3.4′
- Magnitude
- 10.2
- Coordinates
- RA 9h 10.3m, Dec +7° 2′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Feb
- Peak altitude
- 47° from 50°N, 62° from 35°N